HOLYMOTHEROFGOD

2012-01-13T00:14:00.003-07:00

Try, try again...

At last I feel it is time (again) to attempt to purchase our house.

Everything we have is sold- our condo, our duplex, our savings are exhausted. Now essentially all we have is a few earthly belongings in a small storage unit and a few small pieces of furniture that we took with us across the country. On the plus side, now that we have `purged` ourselves of all we had perhaps this can pave the way for the final successful attempt at home ownership.

We have chosen to offer on a very retro, vintage 1970s inspired home that has many wonderful varieties of wallpapers, and gardens filled with lawn ornaments, gnomes, ducks, signs, lights and other trinkets. The garden shed has a plethora of horns and racks adorned to its outside, and the home itself has lovely popsicle stick shaped brown shutters at every window. Very lovely =) In fact the garage doors have a quirky kitschy hand painted mural as you can see here. And it is very lovely- I will feel badly for a moment when I Tremclad over it. Someone *did* try to paint something there that they were enjoying.

The thing I love about homes like this though is the opportunity to make things the way that you want. I loooooove that! And typically you can get these places a little cheaper (like we are hoping to here) with the knowledge that yes, you can expect to do likely a few years worth of renovations.

This home will need mostly paint, wallpaper removing, more paint, some flooring upgrades... but otherwise, really just cosmetic changes. Structurally it appears to be good.

I am really ready to move forward from the chaos of 2011! I would happily trade off my spare time spent removing wallpaper, pruning and gardening, painting and prepping for a space I could call my own. Happily..!

This *has* to be the time that it happens....!

Happy New Year

2012-01-05T23:24:00.004-07:00

Thankfully 2011 is over.
Welcome, welcome 2012- let's invite all good things into this year!
2011 was a difficult year. We moved (again), we sold or gave away just about everything we owned -furniture, household knick knacks, even all of our properties are now officially sold and gone. Now that I am "back home" I literally have my health and a pension left to my name, and a few boxes of personal effects in a storage unit.
I am glad, however, to be here and to announce (officially) that we are starting a family in 2012. We look forward to welcoming someone(!) here mid June this year. A Gemini (unless he or she comes late) born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon to his Rooster (Gemini with Aquarius rising) dad and Ox (Aries with Gemini rising) mom. I think this is all a good fit. Certainly the timing could not be better since I enter last year of my thirties this coming March. But (waves finger indignantly in the air) I am and will maintain that I am "IN MY THIRTIES"... so there.
It feels like much more of a new year and a clean slate having purged so much from my life all year in 2011. All has been stripped down, all has been cleared away, the future is paved and clarified. All there is to do now is simply - move forward.
Welcome 2012. Let's go...

2011-12-30T23:10:00.003-07:00

Your beliefs become your thoughts

Your thoughts become your words

Your words become your actions

Your actions become your habits

Your habits become your values

Your values become your destiny.

~Gandhi

Make 2012 a year in which you believe that you can do it. You CAN do it...

2011-12-22T21:21:00.002-07:00

Officially it is today that Winter Solstice arrives. December 20 and December 23 solstices occur less frequently than December 21 or December 22 solstices in the Gregorian calendar. The last December 23 solstice occurred in 1903 and will not occur again until the year 2303. A December 20 solstice has occurred very rarely, with the next one occurring in the year 2080. Whatever! As long as the days get longer now!
Are you ready for Xmas? I spose we are; I enjoy the little get togethers and year end celebrations at various people's places. Funny- we were just talking a few weeks ago about how we would like to ask people what their family traditions are, and out of the blue without asking in the first place, people have been volunteering this information to me lately! One person's family opens presents on Xmas day a couple at a time, a person at a time, then takes a break for breakfast or coffee and returns to the gift sharing. It takes them hours to open gifts. How cool! Another person loves the meal, and wearing the stupid crepe paper hats from the Xmas crackers, and the family dinner experience. I do enjoy Xmas very much, but I really like New Years Eve also. I think a tradition of maybe a family dinner where each person reflects on their year in a sharing manner would be really neat to record on a camera for future reflection.

What are your traditions? I would love to hear. Please leave me a comment and let me know!

2011-12-15T23:56:00.004-07:00

Aw, sad -minus 16 you poor Winnipeggers. =)
Funny, we had another Pegger (who lived there about 30 yrs) over here a few days ago that has recently moved to Vancouver this summer. We were sharing our thoughts about moving here, about why other Peggers do or do not, what most Peggers think or conceive about the "Wet Coast". Although we all concede that sure it rains here more, the rain on most days does not even require an umbrella. Consider it mist, he says. Compared to Winnipeg monsoon drowning rain that falls out of the sky in buckets, floods the city and leaves you soaked to the bone in 5 minutes, this is not rain. If your idea of "rain" is that reference point, obviously if someone told you "it rains in BC" you would think it must really suck to live here! lol
Likewise we were comparing our ease of travel here, to there. This recent Winnipeg transplant says you know, this Skytrain business is pretty great. I have no need for a vehicle around Vancouver (true!) In fact for me to fly direct (a 15 minute flight) from Comox to Vancouver a few weeks ago it cost me $40 bucks. I walked 3 blocks to Skytrain, travelled into Metro Town to shop, travelled out to Surrey, hopped a bus and got to Langley for dinner. It's all at my doorstep, even from over here.
He was really excited that here he is, in BC in December, at plus 2, taking his Harley for a road trip from Vancouver up the inside of Vancouver Island with no difficulty. Be even better once he does that in February =)
Admittedly he chose to own IN Vancouver which is far more costly than living in an outlying community. Here in the Comox Valley an average home is 320k, I would average at. A starter home (a rancher, or smaller home) in the Courtenay or Cumberland area could cost you $250k. A mobile trailer -you're looking at 150k? Or less, or more depending where it is and how old. Condos range from $135-300 here depending of course whether they are ocean front or not. In Vancouver, right in Kitsilano, he purchased a condo there for 450k about 9 blocks down to the ocean. He also bought a pre-construction condo in New Westminster for 270k. You *can* buy NEW condos right near King George Highway in Surrey, off the Skytrain track, for just $135k. There IS affordable housing here depending on where you CHOOSE to live. Again-to be fair- condo fees in Winnipeg? I would argue these are $400 on average. Here? $150-250 on average depending on ammenities/ underground parking etc.
Funny how people pre-determine that BC means BRING CASH or that it isn't worth moving too; it's too expensive... it's too wet... it's too hard to make it. From three Winnipeg transplants living here in December at plus 6 in our oceanside town, I really feel for you guys. Neener neener. And merry hoho to all my peeps.... I miss you guys =)

2011-11-23T21:01:00.002-07:00

cafe astrology : Early Friday, a New Moon occurs in Sagittarius. This lunation is a more potent New Moon, as it is a Solar Eclipse, and represents a new beginning in the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius. It's a time when we can focus on some of the constructive traits of the sign of the Archer--optimistic, enthusiastic, adventurous, honest, outspoken, independent--and consider how to positively incorporate these qualities into our lives. Now, we can focus on goals that will increase our understanding and awareness, give us courage to expand our horizons, and gain confidence and optimism through a broader perspective. We can too easily get lost in the details of mundane existence. With this potent Sagittarius energy, we can find ways to transcend these details of day-to-day
life and nurture our faith, hope, and vision. Because Sagittarius thinks in big
terms, we may have a tendency to overdo our expectations--something to watch
for. It's time to be a little more adventurous, and to set the stage for reaping
the rewards from our braveries, as little or big as they may be, in
approximately two weeks' time after the Full Moon occurs.

astrology.com :When Mercury is retrograde, everyone's thinking is more introspective; we tend to think about issues and concerns that relate to the sign involved. With Mercury retrograde this time in adventurous, freedom-loving Sagittarius, people with this sign prominent in their charts will be especially prone to such introspection. Sagittarius (the opposite sign to Mercury-ruled Gemini) is the detriment of Mercury, so Mercury here is even more erratic than usual, due to his weakened position. Sagittarius is not noted for tact or subtlety, and with Mercury stumbling along here, no doubt some people are going to have their hoof in their mouths, big-time. International misunderstandings due to faulty information are in the frame. Sagittarius is a Mutable Sign, so the other Mutables, Gemini, Virgo and Pisces are also likely to experience considerable conflict between heart and head, along with a good dose of typical disruption.

BC Medical Privacy?

2011-11-15T10:26:00.004-07:00

I wonder how often this happens.

We applied for HIS medical coverage in July. Our paperwork was lost. We reapplied in August. The paperwork was wrong. We reapplied in late September. All of October we heard nothing. Today, we receive two letters from BC Medical.

The first letter said please send a copy of his Canadian Birth Certificate so we can confirm he is a Canadian resident. How irritating, but sure. The second letter is what stunned me.

In the envelope was a letter stating sorry, the photocopy you have sent in is too dark to read. I look at the attached paperwork, which is a full application for BC Medical, 2 pages, none of which was ours. SOMEONE ELSE'S APPLICATION, with phone number, address, birth date, signature- all clearly legible, all in my hot little hands. I was horrified.

How often does this happen!?

What other information in the BC Medical system is going astray or ending up in someone else's hands!?

Worse yet, what if I were NOT an honest person- this is like receiving a golden ticket to identity theft! If this DOES happen even OCCASIONALLY, where is my information going!?

I immediately stuffed it in an envelope for return mail, not reading any further information about these people- I only caught their last name and province they came from.

I also immediately emailed MSP as well as the Health Minister to complain about Privacy Assurance.

Yikes. You know, with the information I had, I could have *phoned* the other people and let them know also that they information was breached and sitting on my kitchen counter. I had access to their cell phone number and could have done so.

Holymother... Today is a day of government agency let downs. Read here to find out yet another BC disaster currently in progress....

2011-11-14T09:54:00.002-07:00

Duplex is getting (re)prepared for showing. Floors are getting sanded and varnished this week. Cleaning lady coming later this week to detail clean the place. A very good friend is coming to straighten and tidy and make presentable what otherwise is shabby left behind furniture by our last tenants. All those things that need to happen are slipping into place. Next month offers for purchase will coming rolling in.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, a mini vacation in Vancouver recently rejuvenated my batteries. I had no idea it was so affordable to FLY there directly from Vancouver Island, and a short 20 or 45 minute flight depending on where you depart from. $63 to get there, and just $43 to get back. This makes travel over to the mainland much more accessible. I was lucky to get back though- a strong rainstorm had swept the coast Friday to Saturday, cancelling ferry routes, Skytrain (light rapid transit system) and flights. A few travel plans changed on the way into Vancouver from the valley upon finding out what transportation lines were available. Much thanks to Kelly for driving me all the way into the heart of lovely Vancouver on the Wet Coast!
The island is noticeably drier than the mainland, likely due to the mountains and where the rain is inclined to fall =P.. British Columbia is an amazing province for the variety of climate zones that exist here. We have northern tundra, a wet green rain forest, a desert pocket in the south central area, we have plains and farm fields and rocky island shore. I'd love to do some BC staycations each summer and explore more of the province, like we did as kids. Maybe the same experience, but without a vehicle overheating or breakdown as seemed to be the norm in the early 1980s... Still, it was pretty great to head up the Canyon, check out ghost towns, camp on the island coast, walk through some pretty huge forests and beaches, and just see what's out there. I'll need to find an Airstream or a tow behind camper and get this plan in action =)

2011-11-08T09:46:00.004-07:00

Our tenants were unfortunately unable to pay November rent. They were able to pay rent LATE every month since June (except September which was actually paid ON the 1st) which resulted in a written hand delivered warning letter, and several emails each month prior to each first reminding that rent was due and needed to be paid on time.
They left this weekend, and a mess of course, but also a fair amount of furniture that I'm not sure what they are doing with. At any rate with our home for sale, an empty unit is an empty unit and it is easier to show, and should be easier to sell.... as soon as I get the place cleaned and repaired....$$$$

2011-11-02T21:02:00.004-06:00

Hard to believe it has been almost a month since I posted!

Temperatures are starting to dip although of course a milder, damper cold than what I have experienced in the past 3 winters. It's plus 4, but you feel chilled simply due to the moisture.

Speaking of which, this has seeped into the exterior walls here, and we discovered a rather large and unfortunate patch of black mold growing behind the couch. And behind the bed. And in the corner of the living room. We reported it to the landlord who came and inspected it, told us we could clean it up and be reimbursed and suggested a dehumidifier (which either we could buy or they could). I guess I expected a more serious response, like a dehumidifier immediately (as in within a day or two) delivered, a check up after to see if the mold was removed, etc. But none of this occurred. It was more like a giggly ew gross, and dismissed. I am quite disappointed and actually now that I think about it, I should have mentioned it to my doctor today during my physical due to the risk of exposure. This really is no laughing matter. Mold exposure (and really, just knowing there is moisture wicking through these exterior walls) is a sign of failure, either of a membrane or something structural. It is not only a health risk for tenants but a potential lawsuit for health issues against landlords if not adequately dealt with, and or building condemnation if real structural risk or real health risk is found. If it were me, that would wipe any smirk or smile off my face.

While the mold was cleaned by my saviour BF, I spent my time searching online for somewhere else to live. We may have found a place but lest I jinx it, I will not say another word. My failure rate to date of announcing new homes has been extremely high, and this is not an area I ever wanted to be succesful in !

I am ever hopeful that our housing situation will one day be rectified. We have numerous little hurdles to overcome, despite being bombarded right and left with yet another roadblock or yet another challenge. It is coming. I know it is. I just don't yet know when.

2011-10-07T10:09:00.004-06:00

If you missed this news last week, watch this tear jerker here about a woman (29) with her new hearing implant. Deaf since age 2, although assisted with hearing aid devices since- which (in her words) only help so much- this is her first time hearing everything. It's extremely amazing what medical science can do today. We can make the blind see (Corneal transplants), the deaf hear and -with further research- perhaps even create sperm from stell cells. Pretty amazing world we live in.

2011-10-06T09:44:00.003-06:00

Must be Fall-Winter in BC, it's raining =) Not a torrential monsoon rain like Peg City, but a light wet drizzle that is seemingly continuous. Apparently sunny a little further down the coast by an hour, but up here a little overcast cloudy drizzly.
Pretty weak summer and sad to see it come to an end. I had vacation there mid September and was able to see 2 super hot days on the 9-10 weekend or so, then immediately the furnace was turned off and Fall wandered in. Interested to see what the "winter" brings. I'm sure a couple days of snow at best, and about a 0-2 degree mean average temperature. I'll see if I am right.
Everyone in this little household is hard at work (literally) - concentrating on paying the bills down and preparing for that one golden day when we can finally purchase a home. Duplex is for sale in Peg City; both halves up for grabs. We will see what offers come in next week... Likely still take some time to get a place here even if we sell for the right price, but certainly this is all a brisk walk in the right direction. Be nice to firmly plant ourselves here and grow roots. Certainly this is the place to be and the place to do it. If I haven't said it before, or haven't said it enough, I love BC.

2011-09-29T10:22:00.002-06:00

New Moon just passed and I find that I noticed this one. Lots of beginnings and starts and things moving in a forward direction either with me, and or around me to other people. Someone's wife just got pregnant, my duplex is being listed, we have people interested, my other half got a good paying job & started work last week, we moved around all sorts of things in our suite to make life more comfortable, yada yada yada. Things feel very progressive this week... finally...

2011-09-22T11:18:00.002-06:00

As I am sure many people are, I am watching the news of the world/global economy on a regular basis. I try each day to take the pulse by reading the online news and hearing what -if anything- has developed in Greece or the United States. Although it may seem as though we are "removed" or distant from these markets, Canada is directly impacted. It is much like a monkey see, monkey do situation. Okay, maybe that's incorrect- more accurately our economy is so well tied to the USA that whatever happens to them, happens to us.
Today the Canada dollar tanked by almost 3 cents. We are now under valued to the US dollar for the first time this year. We have been $1.03 or $1.06 or $1.02 to the US dollar most of this year. This has done shit for export-import, but maybe helped a bit with Canadians buying across the line or travelling there. Sucks for my sister, who just this weekend will be landing in California for vacation.
In a longer term vision, the World Bank is urging countries to continue to keep interest rates down, encourage consumer confidence and spending, which in turn generates income for the banks and enables them to lend. The question is balance. If you read the mortgage rate forecasts you see that they anticipate (and have actually for the past 2 yrs) an increase in prime rate. It hasn't climbed the way forecasted YET, but they anticipate a 0.75 point increase this year and next, well into 2013. They say prime will be 4.5 percent or so. Now, the sky has been falling according to these people for 2 yrs. Prime has historically always been under posted rates, in fact 77% of the time, variable wins. No need to panic in my opinion. However for people like myself potentially entering the housing market in the next 6 months or so, this is something to watch.
Feels a lot like a sit on your hands time anyways. Likely what we intend to do.

SEPTEMBER 5

2011-09-04T22:34:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday Freddy Mercury and Mirelly. Two amazing musicians in their own rights. =)
BICYCLE
CHAMPIONS
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
My three faves by Queen. I do love Bohemian Rhapsody but not nearly as much as these three.
Ode to the power of music:
Maria Aragon from Winnipeg
Maria with Lady Gaga Live in Toronto
Maria on Ellen
Far out.

2011-08-23T14:08:00.004-06:00

There are times when you meet people that for some reason- for whatever reason- your opinions or points of view just simply do not and cannot meet amicably. In the past three days I have had interactions with two people in which this has occurred.
One woman simply had to complain, rather vilely, about a plethora of issues she had with my workplace. I listened patiently and at one point attempted to explain a policy that was in place to indeed help her. She argued with me regardless and I dropped the attempt to help her understand, but continued listening. She was rude and argumentative, and nothing I said or could say would change her opinions that she was so eagerly sharing.
Today I had the same experience with an accountant that I met in her extremely unkempt and run down home. She had been a previous real estate investor 40 yrs ago before the interest rates in the 1980s almost consumed her financially. She struggled throughout those years working double jobs to manage her investment overhead and finally declared bankruptcy at the end. She suggested I do the same. She offered no helpful corrective measures I could take and argued the advice I had previously been given by my prior accountant and a recently retired CRA contact I have in Winnipeg. To her knowledge I was going to pay incredible amounts of capital gains and fail miserably this year and should likely liquidate everything, wipe the slate clean, pay the piper and rethink every facet of my plans.
I concede that I am not in the best situation at this moment, but it HAS been worse, and I have difficulty throwing everything away, paying dearly to do so. Moreover I hesitate on taking advice from an accountant that can obvioulsy not afford their own means or what appear to be required repairs to their own home. She in fact suggested that she was thinking about renting out her rundown home for $1400 a month and perhaps I would be best to rent from her. And or declare bankruptcy. I have to decline both, of course, although they are tempting and valid offers to someone perhaps more desperate than I am. (I can assure you and myself that neither are worthy of contemplation!!)
At any rate, something odd about these two meetings. Apparently opposing viewpoints that are available for my consideration. Wonderful. It's always good to consider a new point of view. (Thanks to Kate for this wicked awesome photo)

2011-08-20T11:40:00.002-06:00

2.1% mortgage rates for a 5 yr variable. Wow. I can't believe how cheap it is to lend money right now. Even the 10 yr rates are under 5%. Pretty incredible. Verico even has a 5% cash back/ zero down pmt option to qualify you at a rate that is still quite feasible and also around the 5% mark. I am shooting for this option.
My broker is still working on qualifying me but CMHC is holding apparently still resisting. Insane. I feel like I should move into something more semi-permanent until I am apparently qualified to buy. I don't know what that would be, but certainly this tiny unit we are in is too small for 3 people to live in.
Johns friend moved out here 3 weeks ago from Winnipeg. Loves it here and is helping us out with rent. Glad to have him here but further reduces the feeling of the size of this space.
Something has to give!!!

2011-08-05T14:38:00.003-06:00

Wow, the US sure is in a bad position. I was googling the US economic situation and I see that around noontime TODAY the dow took a horrible nosedive. The more I read the more I see this DOUBLE DIP RECESSION coming up.
Can't say I ever took economics, I don't own stocks and I don't watch CNN. What matters to me is simply "am I going to pay more for my mortgage" or "are my mortgage rates going up or down" or "will I qualify for a home this year?!" And all of those things are hinged to the economy. What I understand from the couple sites I visited is there is speculation that rates will continue to stay low while the EU and the states get their shit together. This is okay with me. I can happily manage a 3.3% interest rate for a 5 yr mortgage, if I can just get approved. My mortgage broker is currently working on this and hopefully, like some other peeps I know, I can finally FINALLY move forward on the housing situation. GOD WILLING!!!

Reason #1000 to live in BC

2011-07-22T00:41:00.000-06:00

2011-07-20T22:42:00.002-06:00

Cat scratch fever, here we go again. I soooo have to get my one last cat fixed. She is the last one to go under the knife. She is in her unfortunate wanton state once again and its just about unbearable to listen to. Tonight she sleeps in her crate out in the truck. Not gonna listen to it for Night Number Three. She can howl to her content out there and not bother a soul. Good enough. At least it will stop her from making her unapologetic and very forward moves on all the male cats in the house. I'm pretty sure it's considered an advance when you sit on their face. I mean I haven't seen a human female do it in a bar yet, but judging by how far it gets my cat, maybe some woman somewhere could pick up some moves from her... =P

Pretty dismal summer we have here so far! I hear someone say that it's an El Nino year which makes sense since there was a cooler than normal winter here. Having said this we are notorious for indian summers which I am counting on since vacation was delayed until September.

Funny- I read my horoscope somewhere online back in January and it said this year would be work work work delay delay delay and I cant dispute the results as they are rather right on.

Dunno what you're supposed to do when you read this in retrospect- crawl in a hole?! Head for cover? I mean forewarned is forearmed but what the hell. Right as rain....

2011-07-13T11:27:00.005-06:00

This is for CJ who lost her best friend last night. (((hugs)))
People that have pets, especially multiple pets, and different species, I have to confess I understand. In fact I like homes that have fish and turtles and cats and dogs. Not necessarily a fan of birds, except chickens- I like chickens- but the other quiet friends I quite enjoy.
I often think about having what Sister has- the farm like existence in the forest. Collecting eggs; dogs and cats around, a block to the ocean. I quite get it.
I like the idea of having a sort of hobby farm. Or running a small campsite, or a small kennel for cats and dogs and other animals. I can't imagine there are many places that would take, say, your iguana while you vacation in Mexico. It must be tough to find places that do things like this(?) And really, what do they need, other than a large tree limb to climb, a heat lamp, some vegetation and a sunny window to lie in =)
I think having a relationship with an animal- an unconditional best friend- is an amazing gift. We are so lucky to have them in our lives. Here is to you CJ, have a good day of happy reflection on what you were gifted with through Bailey.
RIP Bailey

2011-07-10T22:29:00.004-06:00

I'm not going to lie to you, this move has sucked.

Financially speaking, anyways.

I was so happy to move back home that I blindly believed that "everything would fall into place" and magically resolve itself. I created beliefs that assured me things would be okay. The first one was "it may cost me a few bucks to ship my things back, but I'll sell almost all my furniture and that will save some money". Not so much. Still $1.35 a pound to move things across 4 provinces and another $125 a month to store it here. Second one was "I'll buy a house as soon as I get there". This proved impossible. CMHC told me to sell one property, so I do, and STILL denies me regardless. Meanwhile I am pouring my money into an $800 rental unit, sleeping on an inflatable bed and our one unpacked computer is housed on a plastic folding table.

It's how we roll.

On the flip side, I can't tell you how stupid happy I am to be here. Despite the hemorraging accounts and the financial knife held to my financial jugular, I am so in love with BC. I will never ever ever move out of province again, amen. If you ever think to yourself that you've just had enough of whatever it is about your home province that drives you insane, just move away. Go. Try another province. Cleanse yourself of everything that irritated you and once you've got it out of your system, move back. I so <3 BC right now I cannot even tell you. It's the best place to live ever. Even living in a van down by the river here beats a winter in Winnipeg.

Saturday we had THE most amazing day. Got up early, hit the 7-11 for an energy drink, hit the road and got in the teeny ferry lineup for Denman Island before 9am. Beautiful sunny day, ocean sparkling on one side, a little 7 minute ferry ride with all of 20 cars transports us across the water to a gorgeous green island. As the ferry leaves the dock I look over at my prairie born and raised partner, who has a shit eating grin from side to side, amazed that we have this insane highways system in BC that apparently involves driving on BOATS. As we unbark on the other side, we enter the total unknown. Never in my life have I been on Denman, and our actual destination is Hornby Island, which is yet another ferry ride, if we can find that terminal on the other side of Denman Island.

Obediently each car leaves the ferry as instructed our uniformed BC Ferries people. We crawl slowly up the ramp and I look over at this delicious calm emerald green ocean below; how great is that. But it was as we headed up the steep island road from the ferry terminal passing a multitide of signs telling us where all the local artisans are on the island that I had "the moment". That's when I thought to myself, wow. I am in the right place.

It is extremely amazing how many artists live here. And I mean tons of them. And all KINDS of them. There are fabric artists, musicians, paper - clay - metal - wood artists. There are writers, weavers, jewelers, carvers, omg I could write an hour and probably not cover everyone! Somehow all these people sustain themselves by their art. THAT is the amazing part. Not only that, but there are festivals upon events upon concerts upon shows that CELEBRATE these artists.... all summer long!

Let me elaborate.

We travel across the island, passing a thousand flower stands that take payment by the honor system. I got a gorgeous lily arrangement for 6 bucks, I could not pass it up. Takes all of 10 minutes to traverse the island to the other side, passing ocean view farms, little orchards, a bakery, some little c-stores, then we get to the well treed other side. We get to the other tiny ferry terminal with the same 20 cars and park in the lineup. Couple minutes pass and the ferry lady walks up to each car checking tickets with a scanner. She asks are we going to the Hornby market this morning? Right -its Saturday morning, which means farmer's markets are out in full force! Sweet! Yes, apparently we are. Another little ferry excursion and we are over to Hornby Island. We laugh because the sign above the ferry terminal is hand painted, kind of crazy lettering, which amuses us. The same steep crawl up from the ferry looks like an indian reserve it has soooo many plackards pointing to this shop, and that gallery, and this store, and that artist, and don't miss Bob's Biscuits up here, and on and on and on. Probably a couple dozen signs all the way up the hill. We drive up and within a minute we stumble over the market that is just setting up at 11am. Hey, why rush, it's Island time. We start commerce when we start commerce, man. There's no hurry here.

The exhibits are in a treed little area off the road, showing everything from handmade hand woven blankets to fresh vegies and herbs. Jams, jellies, preserves... jewelery, metal sculpture, cinnamon buns next. Oh, and a tarot reader. But what got me was the $450 it cost per hand made blanket. And the $125 per small artwork (roughly a 5x7 block of wood) or the $10 per jar of jelly.

We seriously need to get ourselves on the other side of those tables.

But before I run out and print postcards, or run and slap my photos in every local gallery, or open a welding shop I have to return to the practical matters at the beginning of this post.

Where the hell are we going to live?!!

2011-07-05T00:04:00.003-06:00

In March when I first arrived here I tried to purchase and was denied. The lenders liked me, they approved my file, they preapproved me for purchase. CMHC denied me.
I find myself in the exact same position once again. Starting to feel like this is personal or something. I don't know what to do other than liquidate absolutely everything I own. Dump every property, every asset I possibly can in order to buy here.
It's a sad day.
RIP Bash

2011-06-27T00:01:00.003-06:00

I sorta kinda almost own a house.
Subject to, subject to...
It's about a 10 minute bike ride to this scene here (Comox Harbour) or a one minute drive. On the Comox side, pretty good neighbourhood (nothing fancy, just your average 1980s sort of housing area, appears to be a mix of young and old people living there judging my lawn ornaments). 1900 sq ft, 4 bed, 2 bath, third of an acre or so, seperate detached double garage with a nice grapevine growing on a trellice in front of it. Big poplar trees lining the back of the property. It's at the max of my qualifying ability so I am doing all I can to put powerful thoughts towards completing this transaction. And finally owning a home.
Meanwhile back in the Peg City, I have sold my condo (finally, officially). The deal is done. The funds are ... somewhere. The amount I am getting from the sale is .... unknown. I'm sure it will all fall into place this week, with the usual amount of effort from me digging for answers and connecting dots.
My duplex out there has one good tenant and one pain in the ass. Apparently mowing the lawn is too much to ask. I always thought that when you rented a HOUSE WITH A YARD that you would recognize that you MOW IT. He feels he should be discounted on his rent for doing so. Ahem. Any friend of mine who has rented a house, at any point in my life that I have known, has mowed their own lawn. The landlord did not come over and do it for them, or send anyone to do it. Am I wrong?! This is the same guy who was late a full week on rent the minute we moved provinces, and played stupid when we finally caught up with him.
We considered selling the duplex- even just this one unit. The only problem is there is soooo little equity in it, it would negate any gains whatsoever. In fact I would have to list it via Comfree to just pay for the overhead it has owing on it. Comfree would at least avoid any realtor fees. But then who do I get to show it? Especially with tenants in it?
Tough call.
I'll wait just a month or two to get settled with this property here and then figure out what Step Two is. Let's just get a house here first, and get out of this cramped 600 sq ft rental unit that we and five felines share. Freeeeedoooooom!!!!

2011-06-21T00:05:00.004-06:00

Housing options have changed.
The house we tried to bit on a few weeks ago came and went; the seller and us were a couple thousand apart and we held fast to asking for new appliances. It sold last week for the last price we had offered. Whatever!
Last week we found a nicer place, larger more private lot, manicured yard, playhouse (with tv!) wired shop, but the house is 1600 sq ft... rancher, and limited in its options for expanding at any time. We offered anyways, they countered, we still stand about 10k apart. Offer is kind of pending. If we want we can come back to this.
Property Number Three is an interesting option. Its one acre. Its 2300 sq ft. with 6 beds, 3 baths, large rooms, big rear covered deck, seperate double garage. And its not been updated or touched since oh, 1964. It smells like laquer. It has not a piece of drywall in it. All panelling. It has a mountain of potential. Structurally sound. No obvious weird wiring or plumbing. Just massive renovations that could create multiple suites if you wanted. If renovated it would net about 100k more in value for resale.
It could.
You could redesign the entire home and choose the finishings.
You could.
You could likely get $1000/.mo for a rental unit in the basement and STILL have the room to rent 2 bedrooms on the upper floor to students. And they would have their own living and eating area, and their own bathroom.
They could.
You could also light yourself on fire, liquidate everything you own chasing after a risky elusive dream that requires more financial resources and time than you have.
I could.
So I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do at this moment. Door Number One still sits there, the nice smaller completed home, for the same price I would pay for the one acre 1964 Girl Guide Lodge that is behind Door Number Two.
What to do.

2011-06-07T00:29:00.003-06:00

Almost that time.
Beach time.
Almost.
Certainly the weather supports the idea. Mostly sun all week with the exception of tomorrow. Otherwise 22 degrees daily, full sun, every other day. You cannot argue with that.
Our place has no curtains other than a couple blinds in the living room and kitchen. Bedroom has windows in the upper part of the wall. It's actually quite nice, once you get past the concerns that perhaps some squirrels and birds may see you. The backyard is so treed that certainly no homes up above us can see down, and next door neighbours are equally invisible. But to wake up to the beautiful warm sun every day and see blue skies and tall trees is amazing. 8o foot cedars and pines. It's hard times here, people. Vicious actually.
Aside from becoming a renter it is good here. I figure if that's the worst of it then sobeit. I consider myself amazingly amazingly lucky to just BE HERE. Just to witness my surroundings daily. Just to be part of it. Quite amazing.
I've been contemplating a few things I have learned or studied in recent years, such as the Law Of Attraction and the movie LEAP which I highly highly highly recommend (but it is hard to find). Essentially each teaches you that you ... wait let me say this with emphasis... that YOU create your life. YOU create what world you exist in. YOU attract what you need, you live in the situations you create- good and bad. YOU attract the people around you, the circumstances, the financial position you have, the outcome of every moment. It all comes down to YOU. So here I am thinking about these things, and I'm driving down the hill overlooking a very panoramic view. An amazing inspiring beautiful view, that if I took a photo with my new I phone would not do it the justice it deserves. A valley that is framed by mountains, lush and green, peppered with little signs of businesses, a little green bridge and just a sunny, gorgeous, relaxing summer like day. And I'm thinking to myself, wow. I asked for this. This is what I asked for, exactly, if not more so. And for a moment I really absorbed that thought and recognized, with my tiny little LED lighbulb that sometimes goes off, that if I can manifest THIS in my life, I wonder what other amazing things I can make happen?
So I urge you to find that sense of awe in your life. =) Because sometimes we need to know that we are the power. And this is an amazing realization. It's all you baby....!!!!

2011-05-30T23:14:00.003-06:00

Yno sometimes its just how you look at things.
It's perspective.
I've been pretty philosophical about stuff in recent weeks. Normally it would get to me, but honestly I don't have time to sweat it...LOL.. so as my little life teeters in my hands I figure I can handle it until things get a little more steady.
Condo is for sale, again.
I have somewhere to live.
I love where I live.
Eventually I'll have time off to enjoy, and meanwhile I'm working and having a pretty good time considering how it could have been! Not bad for a bunch of idots.
So I will continue to look forward to that day at the beach when I can finally stick my toes in the sand, suck back a wobbly pop, have the warm sun on my face and think to myself, yes. Yes this was all worth it.
And that day is soon, my friends. That day is soon.

2011-05-15T20:05:00.003-06:00

Finally we are out of Mercury retrograde.

I can't express to you how much this particular one impacted me, personally and professionally. When Mercury goes retro everything goes haywire: contracts break, communications falter, electronics go wonky, vehicles and transportation get all messed up.\Me, I had to set up a temporary wireless internet office with overloaded electrical circuits popping everytime we turned on a microwave. We had mis-communications galore. I had two sale contracts on properties go south. I managed to escape only the vehicular issues.

Then finally Mercury went direct at the end of April. It took a good week for things to completely dissipate. The rain stopped, the sun came out, God was in her Glory and full steam ahead in all directions. My condo sold for top dollar. My pre approval for purchasing a home here came through. The miscommunications ceased and peace treaties were signed. Or at least another offer on the same house that fell through before. Why not try again, I said. And so we sit waiting for the response from the seller, who lives five provinces away, to consider my offer which is higher than my last one, but remains 20k lower than his asking price.

So I ask you this: would you do what is called a 'splash and dash' renovation (paint, lino, cheap carpet) and list for maximum dollar? Even though you did not replace the dated mushroom colored backsplash tiles in the kitchen, left the almond and avocado colored appliances in place, the mismatched equally dated washer and dryer; display a basement bathroom with a handyman do it yourself shower installation that you need a ladder to step up into (don't ask), and a backyard deck that has 3 different levels and isnt fully painted? I believe this is called "why you have not sold your home in 180 days". And why I am offering the 20k under asking. Anyhoo, aside from these quite obvious issues, it is quite a solid 5 bedroom home. Its in a decent area of homes very close to the ocean.

It's totally a great place to be.

Now check this out because its so damn cute.

High fives for hitting the mark =)

2011-05-02T22:43:00.002-06:00

May already? Oy!
Hate to say it to my Winnipeg peeps but it is soooo nice here, weather wise. I hear you guys got that crappy snow. Poopy. I would encourage you to move to British Columbia, my friends. The water's fine.
Yesterday we drove along the coast from Courtenay to Union Bay in the sunny afternoon. The tide was out, the beach was massive. Its a little stunning to see it, even still. Only 6 weeks here and I still feel like some sort of tourist, gawking at the ocean- just at everything actually.
Rest is a valued past time these days. Downtime like a long drive is really all there is, and I gladly take it. But its good times overall. Despite it all, its good times.
Now its bedtime and thats all I have time to write =)
I promise to give you more than this next time; try to behave yourselves all of you, and if you do not, try not to make the headlines.

2011-04-19T06:22:00.002-06:00

Never anticipated having five cats.
Never anticipated having to move them, or into a smaller space. With no furniture. No cat tree. Nothing to keep them busy, nothing for them to lie around on, nothing to scratch. So they run around at 4am, tear around on the carpet, find empty Pepsi boxes to crawl into, or a bottle cap to play hockey with.
The only cat I have that is not fixed is, predictably, in heat again. I spent most of last nite shushing her, shooing her, putting her into a crate, pulling her out of the crate after she clawed and scratched in there for an hour. Finally exiled to the truck outside.
No rest for the wicked.

2011-04-01T23:41:00.002-06:00

My goodness, I'm down to blogging on a weekly basis. Tsk tsk.

Well, it's April Fools Day. So Happy Birthday to Debbie Ready wherever she is. Today was a great day- super beautiful out, just like yesterday was. Lots of blue sky and large fluffy clouds. Not super warm, but about plus 11 or 12 in the afternoon. Nice enough to walk around the corner for lunch yesterday, and down to the pier today. The last couple days have been very social. I sat and chatted with my host last night on my birthday; had a few glasses of wine and talked about everything under the sun. Tonight I did the same with other people. Tomorrow I have plans again for the same good times. Funny how it all comes together. It's good times, no foolin.

2011-03-25T23:02:00.005-06:00

All things happen for a reason.

Financing did not work on the house I first bid on. Having said that I'm glad it fell apart. I've since seen about another 10 homes, all cheaper, all with better upgrades or features. Kind of the tough part about feeling like you're in a rush- you grab the first thing you see, figure you can make it work, it doesn't, but something better comes along. Oddly (but not in any bad way!) life has been doing that for me lately! No complaints! I'll take it!!

Now I don't want to continue to gush, but dang it people, this area is AWESOME. It's ridiculous, really. Eagles overhead, deer all over the place, crocuses popping up, seafood everywhere you go... it's just wrong that only 37,000 people live here! And yet all the amenities are here including all sorts of big businesses, box stores, golf courses, salons and boutiques- it almost seems excessive for such a teeny community. I am seriously curious about the summer population swell, which I hear is pretty noteworthy. We'll have to see where these swarms of people come from!?

Meanwhile I'll have to get used to the ocean again. I walked down around this marina the other day, on a breezy mild afternoon. Lots of people out walking the boardwalks that oversee the boats. You get a great view of the ocean and mountains from there. It was the noise that captured me, though... All you could hear was every sailboat in the marina- and there were SO many boats parked- all with their lines clanging and clinking and tapping. It was like some sort of crazy orchestra of windchimes clammering on the breeze. I had to stop a moment and listen because it was such an amazingly pleasant tune. A happy sound. Made me smile while I listened. In fact I think I laughed out loud at myself for becoming so mezmerized by such a simple thing that I'm sure the locals disregard.

Anyhoo, I'm continuing to househunt and am suprised daily at whats on the market- sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a "holy smokes I think I would've done repairs before I listed" way. It's an exciting process and I confess I love house shopping =P Some people like shoes, I like houses. I know its out there; I'll find it soon. Regardless, I am home. Finding one to live in is just the icing on the cake =P

2011-03-19T22:27:00.002-06:00

Full moon in Virgo this evening.

"With the Moon in Virgo we are all reconnecting to the earth and experiencing our physical selves and environment in a more embodied, emotionally connected way. The roots are starting to grow deeper into the earth again and preparing for the buds to start showing themselves to the sun, symbolic of our own movement towards our earthiness ".

I can truthfully say I feel this happening in my life, but that has more to do with the move than the moon I think. Funny how things happen for you; how things unfold in a way that you didn't know you wanted them to. At the time you think, holymother, how can this work out!? And yet it does. It just does. I won't lie to you- it's been amazing coming home. Familiar things come back to me- stupid things like restaurants I used to go to, microbrewery beers I used to order, seeing BC licence plates, recognizing people I knew in another time and space. It's like a full circle. Maybe I'm looking for it but I find things in common with other people. The lady I live with temporarily here is from my home town, Langley. She went to the same highschool as I did, likely one of the first grad classes there, when there I was a block away growing up next to it. I bet one of her friends from school babysat me...!! Her ex-husband who I met this evening, had a lovely long chat with, has lived a dramatically similar life to my BF's father. People I work with now have all worked with other people I've worked with along the way- we all know people who know people who know people. It's just on and on and on things that overlap, interact or intersect somewhere. So amazing. Life is sooooo good =)

2011-03-16T21:49:00.002-06:00

Well folks, there it is.

This is Comox today; the Hawaii of BC. It's tough, I know. Somebody's gotta do it.

/sigh

Purchased a house, I think. Pending some inspections and reports, things like that. It's a good solid home on a half acre, kind of above town in a nice neighbourhood. You can readily tell an older person owned it- wallpaper galore. Older carpet (green, some brown, some shades of brown, some patterned brown) older gold colored silk drapes. It's sexy personified. But it has 'good bones'. Cupboards are nice maple ones, good shape. Big new detached 16 x 24 garage. Huge landscaped yard with an art studio in the back in its own little area waiting for some attention. Got a double sided fireplace inside. Upstairs there's a rather funky suite that includes a hot mustard yellow kitchenette with teal cupboards and fake brick linoleum flooring. Oh man, it is some type of awesome up there. But it's completely functional with customized cabinetry that someone took the time to shape into that space. I'm not about to spoil that, although I will confess- it will be painted. You can't have two primary colors up there and not paint some red around there to complete the triad...

No seriously, no red paint, but I will modernize the space for sure. We're trying for a purchase plus improvements to let us renovate. Hoping my mortgage broker can make it happen. And if she can't, sobeit. There are tons of homes on the market here, all waiting for people like me. If this deal falls apart due to something an inspection finds or what have you, I will gladly continue to shop for a home.

Anyhoo-couple weeks until we have things finalized so I won't waste any time daydreaming about it. I just want to know where I am living is all I need to know at this moment.

2011-03-13T09:29:00.002-06:00

It ain't easy.
But it's good...

Rainy west coast day today; usual drizzle to welcome me back. Yesterday when I arrived prior to lunchtime, it was overcast but as soon as I had some White Spot in me the sun broke through the clouds. The afternoon was sunny, warm, inviting. Of course I immediately went house shopping with my goal in mind of finding somewhere to live by dinner...

Couple possible contenders for residences: one, 'bout a 10 minute drive inland. The other, right up the hillside above town. Number two is likely the winner pending inspections and discussions.

The community in general is sooo cute! I hear the entire Comox valley is 60,000 people. Courtenay itself is an old community, started in the late 1800s, officially a town in 1915. Loads of water- ocean, rivers, streams- loads of mountains and hills. Thank god for google earth. Had I not virtually driven some streets I wouldn't have any reference points. Truly weird to google earth a place then physically stand in front of it and be like... yep, that's exactly what i saw.... their main streets are uphill, boutique upon boutique upon mom and pop stores that've been running since the 50s. People support local business, like their small town feel and I'm more than happy to be back to the land of grocery shopping 7 days a week from 7am - late. God bless early Sunday shopping hours and the heathens that run the west coast. Amen to that, peeps.

Cumberland, a quick boot up the freeway, is an old coal community. Lots of evidence of growth at one much earlier time- old shack houses, old 1920s homes, and then farther up the hill it appears the younger generation has taken over. New subdivisions are in full swing, plans for hillside development are shaping up- its where many young families choose to live.

Comox seems to be 'base driven' with street names after fighter jets, military references and such. Lots of decent, large homes on larger lots. Havent yet explore much of this area but I intend to as soon as I finish typing =)

Staying at a super nice lady's house, great comfortable large room with desk & tv to boot and of course, internet. So nice of her to accommodate me; very supportive, very friendly and warm Cancer hence the home stay career...

So to sum up my life at this time....It aint easy, but its good.

2011-03-11T20:25:00.003-07:00

Wow, what a day. Not only do I personally go through a Temperature Portal myself, where I leave dark early morning snow covered streets to emerge hours later in a mossy mild oceanside atmosphere covered with daffodils and cherry blossoms; but apparently across the waters the Apolocypse is upon us.

Days ago apparently China had an earthquake. Today Japan has a MASSIVE quake and a coastal tsunami warning has everyone on edge. No waves on the BC coast though, but horrible terrifying destruction in Japan. Nothing in my life is of any consequence, I thought, as I watched the tv screen on the plane this morning. Nothing is a problem. Nothing is like what they are going through. I think of the thousands of people today without homes, the many that are still working likely around the clock to save and rescue people, the hundreds and hundreds dead, their families and their friends.

All I can say is my thoughts and prayers are with Japan.

Here is the significance of the cherry blossom:

2011-03-02T20:20:00.005-07:00

New Moon on Friday. New moons are phases when the moon is "invisible", dark... it's a time in which the self should be rested and rejuvenated. I napped today for 3 hours because it's about all I can do at this point. I'm overloaded mentally and my brain needs rest.

I've just had one major thing after another here since Feb 16. My FIL died suddenly, we poured through his house trying to establish what to toss and what to keep: it still isn't done. We still have several bank accounts and other items to close for him; it's endless.

I switched gears and started dealing with my own stuff... I spent $1000 on my car getting a new battery and tires. On my way to get tires I got in an accident- sideswiped at an intersection yesterday. Couldn't see over a 10' tall snowbank to safely cross the intersection. Figured the new battery would've fixed my car, but nope. Despite the new battery the car still didn't start today- dead as a doornail. I lost it. I felt like what next. This has not been the holiday I planned when I wrote up the request last year. Not at all.

Having said that I find myself in awe of how it all has worked out. Not that you ever want someone close to you to die, nor can you plan for these things, but to have been given the opportunity by serendipity, by whatever, to have vacation time to deal with his Life for him is pretty surreal. I would not have managed otherwise. I needed this "holiday" for this.

It was really hard telling him goodbye while he was on life support. It really really was. I told him how glad I was to have met him; to have had the opportunity to meet him and his wife since coming to Winnipeg. I told him how deeply I respected him and who he was in his Life. And I wished him well, in my mind, to wherever he was headed next.

A friend of mine blogged this a week ago : "When I look at the word, Emergency I have begun to hear the word as Emerge To See". I have to tell you I resonate with that in this minute of my life.

Death is a hard thing for the Living. It's never an easy chore to close a door on someone's life. So I think I choose this new moon to do some mental restoration. I'm not going to let it get to me; I will simply allow myself to rest when I need it. I will roll easily with the punches. Cars can be fixed. Apartments can be cleaned out and there's no rush to deal with each and every paper in his office right at this very moment. Pack it up, look at it later. Another opportunity- another vacation, a weekend or a moment will be given to me when the time is right to deal with those things then. All things have their time.

And so it goes.

2011-02-13T21:09:00.002-07:00

Happy birthday to the Valentine's girl =)

Funny how you remember as a kid only wanting to be a grown up, and as a grown up you wish you could still be a kid !!! What's up with that?!

This is a great birthday link here. Tells you everything related to your birthday- who was born on that day, what the top songs were that year, what your flower is, your birthstone, when you were conceived (?!!) lol... all sorts of stuff I never knew. Very cool though!

Warmish here- hovering around ZERO! Tshirts and shorts, everyone. It's gonna be a hot Valentine's day in the Peg City!!

=)

2011-02-11T09:36:00.002-07:00

This is the month.

Tax time.

Ugh.

I am sorta kinda prepared; I keep an Excel log sheet of my expenses throughout the year. If I remember, I will log my bill(s) and put them in my filing cabinet in the tax file. Most make it onto the log. I must have dropped off on this around November because none of my November- December bills were listed. I spent a few hours yesterday with bills all over my desk, a pile here, a pile there- each pile representing a different type of debt or service... Phenomenal expenses you run up owning rental properties, but it costs money to make money they say. Certainly I won't see any epic returns on my investments until ohhhh, five years from now when the equity has built up. In the initial years they way you just reinvest into them, and that's pretty well where I am at. I just hope we get a nice return =P

Warming up outside, only minus eight today and a great forecast coming this weekend, which MUST mean MORE SNOW. Mmmm, snow. Love it (NOT) More effing snow. Moooooore snoooowwww.
/slaps forehead
If I have to pay another two hundred bucks to snow removal dudes to shovel a build up of ice and snow on my two story high roof again, I will be seriously choked. Stupid, stupid snow. And yeah yeah yeah it's nice and warm. Yeah yeah, ok, that part's good. I'll give you that. I will not complain about the WARMTH. But why why whyyyy with the snoooow.... waaaah =(
lol Let's face it I'll always find something to bitch about =P I'm creative that way.

A week left to another vacation time, and as odd as it is to take holidays just 5 weeks after coming back from them, I have to say I'm looking forward to it. Likely be a STAY-cation, I think. A cleaning, decluttering, perhaps even selling things on Kijiji kind of vacation. I'll see what I find in the basement. Last couple weeks we've been tweaking a few small issues around the house- rehanging doors that wouldn't shut properly, fixing groans in pipes, unclogging drains. Nothing glorious but necessary stupid small repairs that are inherent to old houses. Got a couple more to do, so I'll make my Honey Do list and we can tackle it when we have time.

Spring cleaning. Gotta love it.

2011-02-07T09:45:00.003-07:00

The condo legal proceedings have begun.

I and another unit owner visited the lawyer this morning, bringing with us a small mountain of supporting paperwork related to the balcony repairs. It sounds like we have more than a solid position to start from, but let me back up to fill in the blanks from my last rant about balconies a few months ago.

September the Condo Board announced a sudden meeting - just a week or so later they held it, and said here's what we're doing: an $880,000 repair to all the balconies. Oh, and effective in 2 weeks you have to pay $200 bucks more a month towards those repairs. *edit* And in March you'll each have to pay $6400 in addition.

By October we had consulted a lawyer asking advice because we all felt we should have the right to VOTE on said repairs. In November we sent letters to the Board asking (a) to see the engineer's report that apparently validated the need for these repairs and (b) for a special meeting in which we could vote on them. We had to consult our lawyer to GET the engineer's report and once we saw it, we continued our legal counsel. In a nutshell the report says sure some repairs are required and we suggest in the next 12 months you deal with them, but "overall the balconies appear to be in good condition". No safety issue, no structural issue, no hey by law you have to fix this or the building will collapse. Nada.

December rolled around and we received a FAQ letter from the Board saying actually we don't HAVE to hold a meeting, we don't NEED your vote and the repairs are going to happen. They did, however, hold an impromptu "information meeting" Dec 22nd (where no notes were taken) to further calm down any irate unit owners by stating THEY had seen a lawyer too, and hey, they feel THEY are right in their actions.

Fast forward to today and our legal appointment. The Manitoba Condo Act states clearly that a vote is required for any "substantial alteration" to the building a vote IS required and it must receive 80% support from unit owners to pass. Furthermore our Bylaws and Declarations state ANY repair over $1000 requires a vote. The Board sneers at this and says that Bylaw is ridiculous so we don't have to abide by it. Oh okay, so next time I run a red light I'll tell the cop that red lights are ridiculous and I shouldn't have to stop. Think it'll work? I mean, it's only a LAW.

Anyhoo, we're filing this week to complain that our Board doesn't follow the law. We're asking the Court to step in and require they comply with all Bylaws and Condo Acts regardless of whether they agree with them or not. They should at least get the message.

If this does not work, each unit owner (81 units) will be forced to pay $6400 each next month towards this now $1.1 million dollar project (including engineers fees etc that were previously not reported) that our Board will force down our throats.

We shall see who wins.

2011-02-06T12:34:00.003-07:00

I think it would be very interesting to host international students for a homestay. My parents hosted students from -what was it- China and Japan? It was after I left the house, but being that our home was a 2 minute walk to school (which you could see from the kitchen window) it was super convenient for them. They provided most meals, did laundry, drove them around sometimes when the bus service didn't connect or another homestay parent wasn't able to carpool. Overall I think it was a pretty good deal and experiences for both host and students. Certainly not without its cultural differences, or the odd misunderstanding here and there. But by and large I remember all three students they hosted, one of which attended my wedding in 1996, and I know they learned a lot about us -our day to day life, and our celebrations- while here.

I feel like this may be a good idea for us to look into, especially in that my partner speaks fluent Polish and understands limited Italian. Be better if we knew Asian languages, but certainly there are students from all areas of Europe and elsewhere that are interested in coming to Canada. In fact I was searching and there's not only a big range of nationalities but ages as well. Anywhere from teenagers up to late 30s -young families, wanting to explore other countries. THAT'S kind of cool, and ballsy!! You have to figure it would be cheaper for them to travel this way as opposed to getting a hotel. Perhaps that's part of the allure.

I found one particular homestay in another province that's been run for multiple generations. Since the 50s the house has invited international students to live there. The kids were raised alongside this constant influx of people, varying cultures, always learning about other countries. Kind of cool, I think- not for everyone of course. But it all depends on how you had it set up- are they private self contained suites? How long is their stay? What are their needs? Yada yada yada. On average sounds like compensation is roughly 700 bucks a month room and board. Looks roughly consistent across Canada- some larger cities with higher rents may be a bit more. The young family I noted above was willing to pay 1200/mo for a short term 4 month stay.

Something to think about, certainly. I think it would be interesting to at least try once.

2011-02-06T00:00:00.005-07:00

I have to tell you, this word is huge in our family.

We have a joke about it, because my dad's name is STAN. And both our parents have always ..."encouraged" standards.

At times, however, especially in some areas of my life, I find that I create a set of standards for others that perhaps is nowhere in their sights, nowhere in their minds, nowhere in their vocabulary, nowhere in their reach. In fact, my standards and my goals and beliefs about success are just that: they are mine. I very often go through life thinking everyone must also believe the same. Everyone else must share my ideas, and if they don't, I am all too eager to introduce them and sell them on the many amazing reasons I believe in them myself. I sometimes am surprised to find someone at odds with my wonderful and diabolical plans and thoughts. Gasp! You *don't* think this way?! How odd! You must be fixed!

At some point in my life I hope I learn to hear myself out loud preaching at some poor sap and recognize, in their deer in the headlights WTF moment, that holymother I better change subjects because this person does nooooot get it and is completely offended. Right now, I'm not there. I'm so not there. Right now, I am falling way short of that recognition. I still blurt out whatever I think "need to be said", I still preach and rant, I still am not as understanding and benevolent as I certainly ought to be. I just don't have the capacity to be NICE sometimes, apparently. Too busy trying to make people into me, for some reason.

Some people are deeply, deeply attached to "their story" and their beliefs about what is holding them where they are. They truly, to their core believe they "can't" do this or "can't" do that, and they have a list of reasons to support their position. Telling them otherwise is to no avail. You could write them a letter, spell it out, draw a picture or have an intervention and they'd still be stunned to hear that they can be or do or have something different than the life they've created. They're quite content to tell you their limitations. They KNOW them. They KNOW why they are where they are. Either they believe they deserve it, or can't move above or beyond it- they just are where they are and you sometimes have to let them lie in their own bed and hope to GOD they have a Byron Katie moment. Maybe what I'll have to learn is to say... "So how's that workin for ya?" when I see someone struggle.

So I apologize- in advance, and in retrospect- to those I have already wagged fingers at, and those I will wag fingers at. It's not my place. And I need to shut up.

The only thing any of us needs to know is:

Your life will simply be as good
as you allow it to be.

2011-02-04T11:47:00.003-07:00

What the hell happened in the skies on February 3rd?!
- My mom wakes up in the middle of the night thinking she was having a heart attack, calls 911. Turns out to be indigestion and acid reflux of the worst kind.
- My sister gets a flat tire in nowhere land, no cell phone coverage, no population around, and has to walk to get help. Ends up having to put on four new tires.
- Me, I receive late rent and a rent CHEQUE which the bank then HOLDS ===> results in bounced payments in my accts, ice dams on the roof and today plumbing issues in the house. Bathtub is unusable, despite draino, canned air and snakes. Water inside the walls, bubbling drywall and paint. Ba dat dat dat daaaaaa... I'm lovin it.
Is it just our family affected by this drama?!!!

Happy Chinese New Year, by the way. Read HERE for horoscopes.

GROUNDHOG DAY!

2011-02-02T08:55:00.004-07:00

Groundhog day.

39% success rate on their projections, but let's hope that this time they're right this time.

Early Spring.

Allegedly that would mean "spring" starting roughly around late March which I dunno if I believe... Possible I guess, although last March was snow snow snow cold cold cold. Groundhog "Punxsutawney Phil" in Pennsylvania predicted that last yr; maybe we can trust him since he was right? I dunno....

2011-01-30T08:39:00.007-07:00

Couple thoughts:

One, my duplex tenants called this morning. They have rent. They also say they'd like me to consider a reduction in rent due to the roof ice dams causing some water in the bsmt and admittedly seeping in some spots in the house- on both our sides. I have an emergency call in to a roofing company to come this afternoon, and I'm sending the men in to the attic to see if we can increase ventilation up there to help alleviate the leaks. I can't afford after the fact repairs nor would I expect myself or someone else to tolerate leaks. Having said that, I discounted their monthly rent upon move in by $150/mo PLUS offered to pay hydro and water until March as a move in discount, which is easily six or seven hundred dollars. I managed to delay the inevitable response until this afternoon- but I'm a little taken aback being that I already gave them my shirt and literally this adds insult to injury! This is not "normal weather" and this certainly isn't an expected (or likely cheap) fix. I feel a little bitch slapped. Am I wrong? If so please tell me because I can take it. I have to go see for myself what apparently constitutes a further discount than that.

Two, Oscar the cat needs to go. He and one of the she's simply cannot be in the same room together without whapping each other in the face. It's mostly HER that is the offender, 99% of the time, with a pre-active strike attack from behind a door or what have you. But it cannot continue. This is sooo disruptive to the house. =(

Three, I'm so terrified of flooding and damages and repairs, oh my. Flooding and damages and repairs, oh my. FLOODING AND DAMAGES AND REPAIRS, OH MY!!! Actually I'm 100% serious. The church next door has dumped snow over our fenceline along the side of my house. NOthing they can do about it now, but man if that causes basement problems? Oy, with the worry and the kvetching!

Four, completely different topic and much less concern- people know I enjoy astrology so they keep asking me about horoscopes and such. This is from a site I visit called Cafe Astrology:

There is a lot of talk about a "new sign", Ophiuchus, and how this might shift Sun signs to encompass different dates. We are receiving many emails about whether or not we will be updating the site with the new dates and new "sign". At Cafe Astrology, we use the Tropical Zodiac, which is not constellation-based so that axial precession and the discovery of a new constellation does not affect the zodiac signs, just as it hasn't been an issue in the past (axial precession is by no means a new phenomena). Your sign remains the same.

Anyways that's all the drama over here. But do tell if I am being unreasonable with the whole rent thing. I feel like I gave away the farm in the beginning and now I'm supposed to sacrifice a goat or something biblical like that. Holymotherofgod.

2011-01-29T22:43:00.002-07:00

Got some really wicked ice dams on our roof this year from all the harsh weather. At first I figured I'd shrug it off. Didn't think it actually meant anything other than what- maybe some frozen gutters? Nope, apparently it's a bad sign and has worse consequences.

My tenant next door last week said he got a couple drips in the middle of the dining room, from the ceiling. No pipes exist over it, near it, around it, nowhere close. Thought that was really weird. Now there's water inside the windows, inside the door frames, in the lower parts of the wall where the tell tale sign of moist bubbling paint is evidence enough for me that ohhhhhhh my gawd, we have a problem.

One thing I did know- but again, didn't know the repurcussions of- is that our attic is poorly insulated. It consists of some sort of wood shavings, exterior wall vents that were filled in at some point, and when I went up there in the summer it was hotter than Hades itself. Didn't know what that "meant". Didn't realize that this was a sign of an "issue".

Anyways, before we end up replacing drywall, insulation, gutters, soffits and everything roof related on what is supposed to be a 3 yr old roof, I will have a roofing company come and inspect and hopefully FIX the issue.... =( This better not cost an arm and a leg....

More Stupid Snow

2011-01-28T09:13:00.002-07:00

SNOWFALL WARNING IN EFFECT

Today

Snow at times heavy ending early this afternoon then cloudy with 40 percent chance of light snow. Risk of freezing rain this morning. Snowfall amount 10 to 15 cm. Wind southeast 30 km/h becoming light this afternoon. High minus 2

YAYYYYY, more snow and freezing rain toooo. Apparently though the freezing rain is in spotty areas of WESTERN Manitoba (Virden?)

Also the rain is the biiiig issue. If it changes to straight rain we are going to have some bad, bad times. Not only with the side roads turning into pools of knee deep slush, but the basement flooding, the sewers backing up and very very slick road conditions when it re-freezes this weekend. Already I have a trickle in the bsmt from snow melt. No sense screaming that the sky is falling (it is, but it's only snow so far) but certainly watching how this unfolds. Oy vey.

Fairies & Wishes

2011-01-26T20:55:00.003-07:00

Just around the corner from me- walking distance on a good summer day, is a Co-op gas station at the corner of Grant and ohhh, Lindsay street in Winnipeg. It's a tiny gas station on a small corner lot that has probably been there for about 20+ years. I'm sure nothing noteworthy has ever happened there until recently, when they sold a winning 3 million dollar lottery ticket to some very very lucky lady. Not me, but still, I live vicariously through her, in spirit =)

I think since I was 18 I have had daydreams (like anyone) about winning the lottery- as soon as I could purchase a lottery ticket. I'd sort of never known somehow that they existed before that; I don't recall my parents purchasing them(?) But man, I can soooo imagine how nervous-excited people must get when that happens. Course I have pretty wicked daydreams and dreams in general, so it's not a stretch for me to go there LOL... but it's a nice place to be, even if it's just in thought !!!!

Warmed up here for a bit, all the way to minus 8 and I hear rumours of minus 3. Someone attempted to tell me PLUS three but I think it was just a momentary tease put out there by the local weather man on TV trying to see if anyone hear was gullible enough to believe that shit this close to February. Good sense of humor, he has. After this balmy warm spell we are back to reality, meaning a nippy -25 on Saturday. Thaaaaat's more like it. We can always WISH it were plus three.

Otherwise I hear my nephew has lost his FIRST tooth and was fist pumping in the air about it, which I find extremely hilarious to visualize. I hope he gets more than a quarter- I hear the tooth fairy these days is getting more and more generous, except when kids try to FAKE a toothfairy with FAKE TEETH, and they get letters back from the fairy about it. Can't trick those fairies, they get snooty when they get faked out. =P At least, that's what I hear... never happened in my family...

2011-01-20T09:03:00.007-07:00

Plus 5 on the east side of Vancouver Island today. Wouldn't that be nice. Minus 40 today here with wind chill. 45 degrees difference. FORTY FIVE, PEOPLE... /winces

This morning- after warming the truck up for 25 minutes- we went out to get groceries. Had to park quite a few stalls back, so we got out of the truck, walked 20 feet, looked at each other and said screw this, let's go home!! Got a coffee and headed back to the house. Who the hell shops in this weather?
Can't say I love it. Or like it. Can't tolerate it. Not as long as there are choices in the world, all over this planet, for where you *could* live. As long as there are options, COLD WEATHER SUCKS!!!

Was talking to some people yesterday about this, and surprised to hear that more options, more locations might be open to me than I originally thought. But I don't know. Would be great to live in a warmer climate somewhere and even explore more of the world. I'll have to find out more about it I think. Something to think about for future years, possibly? Definitely like the idea; the thought is certainly appealing...

Going to start some Spring cleaning shortly. I feel like a purge is on the horizon. I had a call from the Canadian Diabetes Assn asking for donations and it turned on a lightbulb. My basement (which we cleaned up last Fall, painted the floor, the walls, got some organization racks & bins etc) is full of things I can see I have little use for. I did one purge in November and gave some stuff to the Main Street Project, like old kitchen appliances (blender, juicer, waffle maker) that they said someone in an emergency situation moving into an apt could use so I was glad to donate for that purpose. Even had some curtains and other stuff in there. Now I see crafting stuff, and just weird odds and ends that I accumulated and hung onto for some crazy reason. Have to get some boxes and start crating it up.

Likewise I bought stuff months and months ago to upgrade this place that I need to install. A replacement kitchen faucet, some new ceiling lights, new front entry security lights- stuff like that. I'll have to get on that. Also need a humidifier installed on the furnace (soooooo dry in the house, I water my plants I swear every day which is my sign of the dry heat coming from the furnace ducts as well as the trauma it causes my sinuses). Yada yada. Never ending list of things as a house will have.

Best get started on something, I'll pick laundry and dishes first and work my way around from there. It's an inside day, kids! Everyone stays in for recess!

2011-01-19T18:00:00.004-07:00

Well, what to say. I feel like I need to post *something* after a 10 day hiatus.

Alls I have my beady little eyeballs on is the latest mortgage news from Mr Flaherty which again, like we needed it, changes the mortgage game.

2-3 years ago you could buy any property you wanted, rental or not, for 90-100% loan to value (meaning 0-10% down). You could have a 40 year mortgage. You could refinance up to 90 or 95% in some cases. Then things changed and the banks changed and the rules changed. They said 35 yrs was the max mortgage amortization and that's that.

Then last April they said no more of this free lending- we're changing rental properties to 80% loan to value (20% down required) instead of the previous 10% down). You can refinance your own principal property up to 90% not 95% as some lenders were doing. This changed the investing game dramatically for those of us new to it or going through traditional lending avenues.

This March- April we have further revisions. Now to buy a new property, you can still do 5% down, but you cannot amortize longer than 30 years. Refinancing is also being pulled back to only 85% maximum of your principle property. That sucks big time. I've no idea how this will affect purchase plus improvement mortgages (?) but I suspect it will make it tougher to get one and certainly to refinance it. Lastly they took a knife to HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) changing the way they are financed (and I honestly don't know the specifics because I don't have one and don't care)

Apparently the good news of this is it will slow the buying market down, possibly reduce house prices, and certainly make us think first and borrow later. But seriously, by doing this, it sets up the banks so they have more security, which allows them to reduce their risk and raise interest rates, which will further reduce the housing market. Me thinks I may have to secure some fixed interest rates soon before this gets more complicated.

So I dunno what to say. It's the good the bad and the ugly all at once. I'll be able to buy cheaper properties in the future, *if* I can find ways to finance them, and can offset the increased payments due to higher interest rates with good rental income. Argh. Double edged sword. I dunno.... Can I meditate on financial issues?!!!

2011-01-09T17:22:00.003-07:00

One of the last days here in the World of Warm. Mom and I walked around the ... well, I don't know that I can call it a "block", when it's a one land island road dotted sporatically with cottages. But we walked up the road, admiring the neighbour's gardens that have the signs of crocus and daffodils popping up through the dirt. I commented that in only a few short days I'll be back in winter wonderland where there are months and months ahead before these signs of growth will appear.
Earlier mom and I drove to Hope Point, where there are some small kitschy artsy shops, and over to the Renaissance Studio that a lady named Milada runs. Milada is a beautiful dark haired Czech lady who makes the most creative and interesting jewelry from crystals and imported beads. She and her husband are also artists in their own rights and have a massive collection (for sale) of art that you would be shocked to see on a small gulf island. There are Salvador Dali "edition artiste", lithographs and, at times, original 15th century paintings for sale. Currently they have a show on of Toulouse Lautrec works for sale (I think they were lithographs) for about $750 each. I just love going there to see what they have on display- it's always something different, and something amazing.
Travelling tomorrow to the mainland, jumping on the ferry early in the morning. I should arrive into the throes of lower mainland rush hour, but I hope to slowly make my way via Skytrain and bus to see my friends out in the valley. It's fun for me to travel on Skytrain- every time I come home it seems that another stop has been added to it- the route expands further and further towards Langley each year. So cool! And hey, rapid transit doesn't exist in the Peg City so it's enjoyable to ride when here.
Thoroughly enjoyed my visit home again this new year. I have countless photos to upload now; I can't wait to see how they turn out.
Heading out to the marina for dinner, to gawk at the ocean while I polish off some fish and chips and a pint or two of Pipers Pale Ale.

2011-01-07T16:37:00.002-07:00

SUPER nice day here, despite starting with the typical BC drizzle. Cleared up nicely, sun is out and plus 9 degrees. I almost hate reporting that to people from the Prairies. Almost!

Spending some time now in the Gulf Islands at the parental home. Mom checks in on people's homes that are not here, and we checked in on a million dollar ocean view home around the corner. The owner purchased a few years ago and lives on the Mainland. The house has 6 beds (2 beds in each massive bedroom) plus a main level den with another pullout. Fully and beautifully decorated, sitting atop a rock bluff facing the ocean, it is almost sinful that the owner does not rent this out and only occasionally -a few rare times a year- comes to the property. Apparently the lady owns the neighbouring properties as well. I asked with some bewilderment, what do these people DO?! But nobody knows the source of this apparently miraculous and unending income that affords this lady multiple waterfront properties. Tough life, must be...

Next door we popped in to a head surgeon's oceanfront home to check in on it, but to his and my mom's surprise, he was home and not absent as expected! He had just flown in and been driven to his house, so imagine the surprise when she opened the door and his, when the door opened! It was a comical moment, but he explained he was just there for the day, and took the opportunity to thank her for continuing to look after their place and gave her a bottle of wine. Nice guy, funny moment =)

2011-01-05T11:17:00.002-07:00

Might be the wet weather but my chest cough has resurfaced with a vengeance. When I breathe it sounds like someone frying bacon on a greasy pan. Spattering noises. I think I've ingested a lifetime supply of Dayquil, Halls, Tylenol cold and flu and no-name decongestant. I did a 10 day stint of antibiotics in late December with equally dismal results. Honestly no idea why it lingers, but it's getting really, really, really lame at this point. I'm a pretty poor houseguest in this condition.

Had a nice day yesterday, seeing some friends from the past (recent and not so-) Drove up to Nanaimo (in the SNOW lol, after all I was doing to AVOID that stuff) in my $36 rental car. Stopped in a few small towns along the way. Nice day overall. Had a built in GPS (okay, a 30 minute convo with my friend Mireille who piloted my driving via Google Earth via cell phone) Good times, thanks Mirelly!!

Today is do-nothing day. I confess I am addicted to overstimulation. I realize this now. First couple days in no high speed internet, no cell phone, no cable tv-land was hard. Now I can dig it. Takes a couple days to get the city life out of you.

And, to see how the vegan raw foodies live, I *tried* a piece of ... um, dried kale with some sort of non-cheese like stuff on it. 'Course after that I bought a stick of butter and some breakfast sausages and acknowledged that I couldn't do it =P My hats off to my sister who capably lives in two worlds -no THREE!- simultaneously making raw vegan, vegetarian AND a plain old meat and potatoes meals for everyone in her family, daily. Dunno I could do that. No, I know I couldn't. That's talent.

2011-01-02T19:44:00.002-07:00

We are sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again. This is a recording, from someone using a dial up internet connection, somewhere in the nether regions of southern BC, where high speed internet has not yet reached.

Weather is nice and sunny, but internet is ohhh, freaking me out some. I am used to NOT leaving the computer, making dinner and coming back to see a page still loading. Or no television to speak of. I played bored games today (yeah, I spelled it right) albeit after I spent a couple hours outside bike riding down to the green, delicious ocean side park in a BC parka. So I will take the bored games, no tv and piss poor internet but I tell you... if I could have my cake and eat it too, it would be in a house with high speed internet, cable tv AND have a year round green treed ocean side park next too it TOO !!!!

Hilarious landing in BC, I have to report. First of all there were I think about 6 babies on the connecting flight from Edmonton to Vancouver who decided RIGHT when we were about to take off, to cry to each other from various locations in the plane, discussing in baby-wailing how terrible this situation was. All you could hear was baby cries popping up from the back, now the front, then the middle of the plane, and about a dozen women laughing at it as the babies clucked away to each other. Soooo funny!!!

When we arrived about 90 minutes later, the dude unloading baggage was yep, you guessed it, wearing shorts. Left Winnipeg airport at 6am, blowing snow on the runway, minus 800 with windchill and yet here we were, landing in heaven, where its green and plus 4 degrees. Long stupid trip, but I parked myself outside on the ferry deck watching the islands go by on my way to Victoria. I could not wipe the smile off my face. I think my face was permanently wind whipped into a shiny pink smile when I got to the other side!

Very glad to be here, despite the dial up deficiencies and soy based, organic, non animal anything that resides in my sisters vegan fridge. You may see news reports of me creeping out overnight slaying cows in the area so I can eat some sort of animal product, and find a wireless hi-fi connection while Im out there... =)

2010-12-28T21:35:00.003-07:00

THANK YOU BECKY!!!!

What a great day. I got TWO great gifts from TWO fantastic chicks. One is a star necklace from BECKY (pretty close to the one shown) so now I am Char the Star. =)
And the other gift I got was from Cheryle- a terrific coffee traveller mug and caffeine to boot!
DUDE, I AM LOVED...!!!
=D

AMAZING...!

Seriously though, there has been so much generosity shown to me lately its crazy. I had a friend swing by my house on the 24th, dropping of a GORGEOUS present (almost like exactly like this shell) AND wine, AND a terrific card made out to us AND the cats. Meanwhile back at teh internets, I have 2 friends from home sending me light and happy thoughts in emails, letting me know I'm welcome home and that I'm heading the right way. Like how completely amazing do I have it. Seriously? GOOD PEOPLE surround me. Totally thankful, and really feeling so blessed to know such great Spirits. 100% surrounded by good peoples. So THANK YOU. To all of you. THANK YOU...

2010-12-24T09:45:00.009-07:00

Merry
Christmas

I much prefer New Years to Xmas, truthfully. There is more of a community spirit to New Years. Everyone all around the world celebrates a new year coming in, all at the same time. That doesn't hold true for Xmas. Xmas is a family time. It's turkey dinner, stockings, stories, home movies, everyone together time. That's how it should be.

2010-12-22T22:59:00.008-07:00

Sad news
Sad, because there is something GOOD in what they were trying to do, that being part of a group that sings together, performs in one voice. I mean, really. Arby's has never seen this shit before. .. And neither has an Edmonton Mall.... Allelujah! There is something absolulely amazing about people singing together, no matter how well they sing. It's the community. The spirit, the energy. It's the togetherness. No need to be a rock star, with rock moves, tonight. Don't be afraid, sing your mind !!! Group efforts, people. Group efforts. All together now.

The eclipse and full moon

ROME — Monday morning the Earth did something that it has not done in over three centuries. The feat accomplished was the successful lunar eclipse that could be seen in its entirety from 2:40 a.m. to 3:53 a.m. EST.

The lunar eclipse, which is created when the earth comes between the sun and the moon in a perfect alignment, was the first total lunar eclipse since Feb. 21, 2010.

Although the cloud coverage made viewing of the eclipse impossible for many in Central New York, stunning visions were seen in many parts of North and South America. The complete lunar eclipse was highlighted by a moon unusually amber in color. Many experts believe that this was due to the recent eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi nearly two months ago tinted the earth's atmosphere and shadow upon the moon.

The nearly 400-year-old occurence was that a complete lunar eclipse and the winter solstice have not coincided on the same day since 1638. Experts don’t believe this is a sign or omen that something may happen to our planet or solar system, but happened by chance.

"It is mere coincidence," assures Strasenburgh Planetarium of Rochester's director, Steve Fentress. "There are no factoids or anything that suggest that this has any meaning. The two dates are totally coincidental."

There is no physical impact to our planet, the sun or the moon," Fentress says. "The only impact is psychological. People can actually witness our surroundings in action. Natural processes are occurring right before their eyes. The triumph of science was fully displayed with last night's lunar eclipse in that we have known about the exact location and time of this eclipse for decades."

Two complete lunar eclipses are scheduled for the upcoming 2011. The first is on June 15 and the second is to take place on Dec. 10. While it was very chilly for the recent eclipse, it is assured to be warmer for the next one.

2010-12-18T06:26:00.004-07:00

What are you missing?

My sister sent me this email- a true story from 2007. It goes as follows and is worth posting :

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

SUCH a great story, and mostly because it IS true. How many times do people pass a busker? At very least whenever I pass someone playing music -or even people begging- I always try to make eye contact and smile. But do I MAKE time to listen to the music, wait and enjoy- appreciate and thank someone for offering it? I can't honestly recall the last time I passed someone playing music- it has been some time. I don't get out much LOL... But I have to confess I definitely get wrapped up in the GOING SOMEWHERE and DOING SOMETHING and the RUSH RUSH RUSH. I miss things sometimes.

I like that kids stopped to listen. Kids don't have any concept of a schedule, or time restrictions, or rushing. Yesterday at work a dad was there with his 2 kids, Christmas shopping. I would think his kids were oh, two and four. 2 yr old boy was in the basket whining, crying, fussing and kicking his boots off while dad was getting really frustrated. Daughter was flailing around but he wanted her to get her jacket on. Dad was trying to instruct both kids at once, picking up boots, while another boot flew off. Not having a great time, really, although I found it really amusing. I looked in their cart and saw a pink scarf labelled JULIA. So I asked Julia by name, if she wanted help with her jacket. She looked at me, like why do you know my name?! I said your scarf says your name is Julia, need some help?! One arm at a time we got her plugged into her jacket and she declared quickly that she could do it up herself. Back away, lady! LOL... Meanwhile the boy, who was 2 seconds ago whining and fussing about his boots, was now laughing and giggling at dad's frustration. Dad sighed loudly, and says, oh NOW you're going to be cute?! ROFL. He turns to his daughter- are you ready yet, because your brother is going outside without boots on, how about you, where are you at? Nope, not ready, she says, I'm still dressing- as she slowly pulls on her toque, gets her scarf from the cart and carefully ties it under her chin, finally pulls her jacket hood up and announces they can go now. Dad grits his teeth in a fake smile and turns to me, Merry Christmas!!! ROFL!!!

Yep, you too!!! Kids are on their own schedule. Time is of noooo consequence! And yno what? They're only small for a few minutes, so let them do it. In a few minutes they'll be driving cars, moving out and going to university. Let 'em be and take a moment to enjoy.

2010-12-17T09:16:00.002-07:00

Getting sick multiple times in one month is no good !!
=(

2010-12-14T07:51:00.002-07:00

Found this TERRIFIC calendar link! It has EVERYTHING, from World Clocks, to create your own customizable calendars, to time zone calculators, to customizable countdown calendars to any date you choose. Soooo nerdy!! Loves it.

I have to start figuring out my 2011 plans soon. Almost time for New Years Resolutions and vacation planning and so on. But before I do that, I have to get my Xmas shopping STARTED!!! WAY behind on this task. Not one thing purchased. Nothing. I have only 9 days to buy things and mail them! I'll gitter done tomorrow I think.

Also need to get a battery for my car which still sits outside, immobilized. Have to do some shopping tomorrow apparently...

Working on our financial picture recently, which is in line with the new year's resolutions and plans etc. I need a more forward thinking, updated 3 and 5 yr plan forecast established. Have to sit down with a calculator, a financial planner, tarot cards and divination tools (kidding!) and make a plan. THE PLAN. The big picture plan... which I of course consistently revise =P

Just a matter of time and tinkering with numbers. Good thing I love math....(NOT)

2010-12-12T07:00:00.002-07:00

Minus 37 last night, minus 41 with windchill. Forecast says today is kind of the worst of it compared to the rest of the week. But yno, I don't care if it is the only day, it's one day too many at that level of cold. Last night I ran to the car with my cart of groceries, started the truck, unloaded the cart as fast as I could, got in the truck, continued to wait for it to warm up, and drove home still feeling cold even when the heat did start blowing from the vents... I got home from work and had a complete cold attack. I could NOT get warm. I had 4 layers of clothes including a sweater and a bath robe, cranked the heat to 26, got under the blankets and for 2 solid hours I COULD NOT GET WARM. Had hot tea, ate a hot dinner.. I just lay there under the duvet, the blankets, under several layers of clothes, inside this cocoon trying to warm up. I watched the entire movie of ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE shivering away. At one point halfway into the movie I went downstairs in my eskimo garb and cooked over a hot stove to make myself some brussel sprouts and THEN finally STARTED to warm up. Took another hour after that to get WARM and peel myself out of the layers.
I hate the cold. HATE IT.

2010-12-08T13:08:00.004-07:00

Met another person here in Winnipeg that's from my home town of Langley BC. What a small world !! He graduated from Langley Secondary School about 4 yrs before I graduated from Poppy in 1991. So bizarre. One of my schoolmates from my grad class actually lives here too, but I haven't seen her yet or made contact with her. I probably should, but our 20 yr reunion is next summer anyways so I'll possibly see her then.

Moving forward, getting more info on rent to owns, how to do them, what they mean for landlords like me. They sound interesting- the only obvious loss is that you sell your income earning property and lose the future equity etc by selling. Duh. But as much as I love my duplex, older houses are high maintenance which equals money out, not in, over time. I think it's best to have low maintenance buy and hold rentals, like condos. I'll keep that investment probably for a very long time and let it pay for itself over the years. Doesn't earn a dime on a monthly basis, but long term it will be worthwhile. The duplex earns money every month but in 3, 5, 7, 10 years it will need expensive things like a furnace, rewiring, the eaves repaired, the soffits, yada yada. The monthly profit will be spent on repairs, I guarantee you.

Anyhoo, looking forward to vacation time next month and again in late February. Be nice to come home and walk some familiar roads, see family and friends and get back to mah roots. Only another 25 days!!!

Links I've checked out today that you may find interesting ...

* Why DNA is not your destiny (epigentics)
* Chicks and broads that made a difference in the past century
* Calm your mind, heal your body
* Flame retardent butter
* Lost civilization found!

2010-12-05T16:41:00.006-07:00

Very sorry to learn today that my ... what do I call him... my Nana's partner (both pictured at left) died on November 28th. Our family discovered this today via the BC newspaper. He was 90 yrs old.

Sel was an Irish, quick witted jester of a businessman who loved a good "discussion" about just about anything. Politics, business, sports- loved a good spirited debate. I think sometimes he would start them up just to see what people would say. You could see the little smirk he would have.

I quite enjoyed Sel, and spoke to him recently on the phone- must have been October? We played telephone tag throughout the year- this summer I think we missed each other about 4 or 5 times. Finally I picked up the phone and got him, and we had a great last conversation about where I was now, what was I doing, how was his family, how was he in his new place. My nana had passed away in 2006 and he promptly moved to Kelowna from Mission into an assisted living facility, where of course, he began romancing other ladies LOL. We had lost touch otherwise, aside from the odd card I sent, and I was glad to hear his voice again. Glad to hear his life was good. Sel enjoyed being social, being with people, so I wasn't surprised to hear him say he had met someone new.

I'm so glad now that I phoned.
I'm so glad now that I sent my Xmas cards, because now I'm reminded that it matters to keep in touch.

Good rest, Sel. Thank you for being in my life. You really mattered to me.
Love, Char

2010-11-30T09:40:00.005-07:00

Good news about Canadian interest rates. I read Mortgage Man's blog today and see that a recent post anticipates that interest rates will remain low into next yr. This is good stuff, and great timing when you own a couple properties and rely heavily on financing.

Return on investment rather low at this time. Slow going, low returns, no tenants. Still showing the duplex to interested people- I believe I have 2 showings today. Hoping that I can secure someone fairly immediately, if not at least for sometime in December. If anything I learned a lesson here. I should *not* have wasted time cleaning the place myself. Time is definitely money, so spend the couple hundred dollars on Molly Maid, get the place cleaned and *immediately* rented. Waiting a couple weeks and cleaning the place myself "to save money" has ended up costing me about oh, 5 times more than what it would have cost for Molly Maid. The delay in posting it as available for rent put me into bad weather, reduced the foot traffic and the number of people looking. I was also too choosy, telling people I was taking applications and would get back to them, worried I would get burned on another shitty tenant. So here I am now 6 weeks after my tenants moved out with no new lease secured, paying a mortgage and hydro on an empty unit. Lessons learned. Luckily when I refinanced this summer I went variable, got a really low rate and the financial implications of not having a tenant are less than they could have been, but still.... definitely expensive mistakes.

Today is clean up day- laundry, dishes and other mundane chores. Major chore today (aside from finding a tenant) is to get the Subaru jump started. I spent $1100 on repairs last month on it, doing brakes, replacing plugs I tore off driving away still plugged in, and getting the battery recharged. It has some slow drain from an unknown source that apparently 2 mechanics cannot locate. I suspect it is the alarm system but I don't know. Last week I got it recharged, drove it at least 4-5 days without issue, then made the mistake of playing with the alarm "to see if it still worked" and lo and behold, the next day... dead as a doornail. Luckily I was intelligent enough to continue to park BACKED IN to stalls, since I was still worried about the potential drain. But I have to get it going because sharing a vehicle is not going to work. =( If it don't rain, it pours!!!

2010-11-29T09:12:00.003-07:00

Sick, sick joke.

More stupid snow?

MORE?!

/slaps forehead.

UGH.

2010-11-28T13:52:00.004-07:00

Watched the Nature of Things this morning. Topic was neuroplasticity which is extremely fascinating. Featured a guy who was in a horrible motorcycle accident in 1985 in which he lost an arm and part of his hip. He has feelings of a "phantom limb", or like his arm he lost is still there, causing him pain. They found that the brain is responsible for causing this, and when this guy saw an illusion (he sat at a table and had his function arm in a box with a mirror, making it appear that he had a left arm in the mirror image) he was able to "move his missing arm" in the mirror and almost immediately his brain stopped causing pain. He was able to THINK he was moving his missing arm and through doing so, told his brain it existed, worked and was not in pain. Sooo fascinating. Another test was 2 groups of people, learning to play a song on the piano. One group physically played it for a week and the other THOUGHT about playing it. Both showed the SAME brain functions, the same brain responses, whether DOING the act or thinking about it. Thoughts are powerful. Thoughts change your brain. What's so great about this research is it substantiates the power of thinking, the power of attraction & belief, the mind over matter argument has validity.

2010-11-25T10:11:00.004-07:00

And this is today's Weather Watch photo from my bedroom window.

Yep, stupid snow. I was actually making my own lyrics to Let It Snow on the way home last night. I changed it up with "Stupid Snow Stupid Snow Stupid Snow".

I'm going to rewrite the song, like this guy. Much more interesting.

2010-11-25T09:00:00.003-07:00

Oscar is getting better.

Last night he went into our bedroom, and I shut the door behind me. He was in the closet under my shoe rack and I rubbed his chin and coaxed him out. He let me rub and pet him, tail in the air, purring away, no problem. He just isn't sure about people though. Unless you are on the ground, lying flat, at his level, he isn't sure about you. If you are tall and imposing, he runs away scared.

This morning I was coming up the stairs and he was at the stair railing. All he could see of me was my face and shoulders. He let me pet him and rub his chin, but his tail stayed low to the ground. He isn't quite sure whether to feel comfortable or secure yet, always waiting for that moment he needs to run. But boy, is he being well fed. Fancy Feast is a few steps up from whatever he was finding before, I tell you!

The other cats are equally as hesitant. One minute they all stand around shoulder to shoulder with him. The next, they watch him get fed a full plate of wet food (after they get a quarter share a few moments earlier) and I wish I had a camera. It was like a group of 16 yr old girls staring down a hotter, more popular hussy. Blink blink, stare... with that "you suck, I hate you" glare that only cats can do. But Oscar was okay with it. He wolfs down his food like it's his last plate ever. Poor guy.

I have to thank the people at work who offered money to help care for him. "Take this to help pay his food. Take this to pay for the vet." I appreciate the offers, and more than that, the gesture. It really says something that people care about a stray kitten's welfare. People who love animals are good people. But the reality for me is, here I am with a house of felions already, so there's no need for any monetary donations. He's in good health, no frostbite, no ear mites, no damage. He's just a great addition to a group of fur people that are already too-well fed, so the more the merrier.

2010-11-21T21:50:00.003-07:00

Exact opposite story of this lady, who this past August, tossed a kitten into the garbage and became an internet sensation in the most negative way. I'm glad to have FOUND a cat in the garbage this evening.

Since late summer we have had a feral kitten living on our work property. It spent much of September hiding in bushes, occasionally surfacing for food. It was warm enough in September and October and I paid it little thought. In the past couple weeks the temperature has readily dropped. The probably 4 month old cat has taken to living under our garbage baler, recently crawling out into the snow and making the odd appearance. A few days ago he came inches within someone's reach but not quite close enough to be caught.

Tonight as I was leaving I checked the outside temperature on my car thermometer, and it read -17. I knew that cat was out there and I didn't want to leave without at least trying to make contact with it. I parked the car near the garbage and left it warming up, while I crouched near the large garbage bins and whispered psst psst psst pssssst. I called and called, and finally heard a faint meow. I spent a good 10 minutes calling it out and finally saw its small face appear. It came out into the snow as I continued to talk to it. It put its tail in the air, rolled over in the snow, like it wanted to be petted, but kept its distance. I kept talking to it, sometimes walking towards it, sometimes crouching, not sure whether it was receptive to being approached. A few times it rolled around in the snow near me, but not near enough to touch. Finally it went down for one more roll over, with its back to me, within reach and I grabbed it with both hands and pulled it in. Not a happy camper, but I held it tight to prevent struggle and damage to either of us. I walked to the car, opened the door and tossed us both in, slamming the door behind.

Holymother, did that thing hop around! To the front window! To the back! To the dash! Like a rabbit; pretty freaked out. I just started driving and talked to it about how lucky it is to be going home to a warm meal and a warm place. I cranked the heat in the car and kept talking calmly to it so it would relax. Overall it took the drive really well. He/she stayed in the back window for the drive, giving out the occasional noise to note its discontent. We got home without incident, I pulled it from the window and took it inside where my small herd of cats were shocked to meet another.

Taken some time, but we managed to get a full plate of food in him and managed a couple sessions of loving to let him know he's safe. Got more than a few greatful purrs and he curled up under my chin for protection. I think he's going to be okay.

Temporarily his name is Oscar. He isn't a grouch, but he is from the garbage. I am just glad he is safe and warm and nobody has to worry about his welfare. Welcome Oscar, no matter how long you stay. Welcome.

Taurus Full Moon

2010-11-20T21:09:00.004-07:00

Certainly I am not feeling this full moon the same way the last two were.

The last two were in Aries, and felt tense and dramatic.

This one feels like hustle hustle hustle, work work work, and that typical last second "almost finished" feeling that full moons seem to bring. But not as dramatic as the last full moons. Full Moon is tomorrow in Taurus. Planetary-wise a lot of changes have taken place overhead in the last month as well, like Jupiter and Venus finally going direct. Could be more focus about SELF PURPOSE, about GOALS; could be feelings of angst that you need to look at, source, question and resolve.

"The full Moon in Taurus reminds us of the abundant ideal, that beauty can be created, and life full of pleasure. To sum up, this will help us break free of old emotional blockages and help confirm our natural worth. Though deep feelings will be present, so will inspired visions, ideas, and ways of acting. Major growth comes from embracing new experiences while staying aware of possible consequences."

Can't argue that. Full Moon or not, those are good things any day.

2010-11-19T09:06:00.005-07:00

Lots of blowing snow last night. Not super super cold, but it's dropping. I hear that Banff and Saskatchewan are getting a blast, though. Minus 30 in Banff next Tuesday? Ugh.

Stupid winter.

It comes regardless WEATHER we want it or not, though (nyuk nyuk) so what can you do. I know I need to buy a floor mat for my entrance doors for mucky snowy shoes, and I have only one scarf so I may have to find some "winter wear" for me and my house pretty quickly.

Showed the duplex last night after work to a young professional couple and a friend wanting to share it. I would say late 20s, well dressed, well spoken, sort of young modern hip peeps. I liked them. We had a good talk about the house, they loved the character, sounded really interested. But I've heard this before from other people since I started showing it after the 1st of the month. I'm *hopeful* that these guys are serious. They're the type of tenant I would like to host.

Condo is rented to a nice lady in her 50s who just sold her house. She's between places, doesn't want to commit to another purchase, wants super low maintenance and a modern space. She loooooves my condo. Called me multiple times to see it. I'm so glad to have someone else live there who loves the space like I do. THAT is a good tenant. She moves in January 1 when my other tenant moves out. Done and done!

Nobody likes to move in this weather. It sucks. Kind of crappy time to have to re-rent, actually. Would be better to have a lease end in (ie) May or August when kids are getting out of school and people are pre or post summer vacation. Crossing my fingers that each place will renew their lease for oh, six months after their initial one year lease ends, just to get their move out date to push towards summer. We'll see- I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

First, I have to deal with winter!! GAH !!

2010-11-17T16:29:00.008-07:00

Snow is trying to come down.

Forecast says every day for the next week it will continue to try to snow. Temperatures are dropping like a rock to double digits in a couple days (Friday) with a low of -17 headed our way.

Yeaaaah. Insert McDonald's "I'm lovin it" tune riiiiight here.

Did I mention that Chemainus BC is the mildest place in all of Canada? Because it is. The Cowichan Valley was named by the local West Coast Salish bands. "Cowichan" means "the warm land". Last time I travelled there was the Fall of 2004. I went there for a solo vacation for one week, hit many of the art galleries, wandered around and just sucked it all in. I still have a hand painted ceramic tile that sits on my desk from Cobble Hill Pottery as a reminder.

Years before that, when I was a kid, our family went to Rathtrevor Beach and visited my mom's Uncle and Aunt in Qualicum. I remember clearly the size of the beach, the numerous sand dollars, and that I found a wide silver carved Indian ring in the sand that I stepped on under the water. I can't quite recall what carving was on it (I think it was Eagle), but it had broken at the weld and was smooth and grayed from being in the water. I pocketed it and kept it for a long time, until my dad in one of his cleaning frenzies cleaned out my room and turfed it along with my Canuck's autographed puck by Tiger Williams (...don't get me started. Packrat my ass. It's called COLLECTING. And you don't throw people's THINGS OUT even if they are 10 yrs old "and it's your house" OKAY!? Grrr. Apparently I hold a grudge LOL) I'd say it was in the mid to late 80s, that trip. We went through Duncan, Nanaimo, through Cathedral Grove, Chemainus & onto Salt Spring Island then too. I remember because it was one of the trips we kids got to "ride in the camper" while mom and dad drove the truck. Which was great until we would inevitably hit a speedbump too fast or stop too quickly, getting tossed around like ping pong balls in a bingo ball machine LOL! That was awesome.

We did a lot of travelling around BC. Every summer we usually did some sort of road trip in dad's 1969 Ford truck with the hot plastic bench seat, long stick shift, rubber floor mats and enough space under the dash that I'm sure was large enough for 6 Mexicans to curl up into. I remember the cab of that truck being so basic, and so large. And if that truck didn't overheat on EVERY TRIP. Oh, we got stranded and called BCAA all the time- I bet they knew us by name. We'd break down in the plus 40 heat, somewhere along the narrow passages of the Canyon on our way home from the Interior... oh, oodles of places. It was all part of the experience =) We chronicled our trip on the silent Super 8 Kodak camera, always starting out with dad taking a picture of the chalkboard in the basement with the trip destination and year written on it so we'd know where the pictures were from... (Or maybe so people knew where to find us when we broke down? LOL) Besides the Island, we went to the ghost towns of BC in Fort Steele (the Kootenay Rockies) when I was really young, and more often we would do Penticton, or Kelowna, or 70 Mile House and a couple trips down to Mt Baker in Washington state. We'd go to Lynden Washington more than a few times, to see the county fair and watched Johnny Cash perform live -something I know I'll never forget.

Probably this is the biggest drawback living here, besides the extreme weather, is that lack of cities or communities to travel to within a 2-3 hour travelling radius. I guess I could get my passport and go to Grand Forks ND just to say I can. I think it's as big as Abbotsford (or at least as populated) and they DO have a county fair which I'm sure would be good.

Travelling is good. I think a road trip is coming !!!

2010-11-13T19:07:00.009-07:00

Don't know why, but tonight I am hopelessly stuck on John Mayer and just loving me some guitar and some singing.
I specifically remember the first time I heard it on the radio. I was driving in my Subaru from BC to Winnipeg; it was 3am and I was somewhere around Creston, I think. I remembered looooving the song, waiting to hear it announced who sang it. Such a retro style- almost jazz, but not quite. Sort of late 70s or something, but not totally. Something that takes me back to Paul Simon? My dad was a huge fan =P
No Such Thing (this link is Mayer) "There's no such thing as the real world- just a lie you've got to rise above...They love to tell you stay inside the lines ". I was just talking to someone about how we create self limitations and boxes for our selves. Sometimes we need to rise above... color outside the lines a little.
Breakdown (this link is Seether-accoustic) Love this song - so break me down. Go ahead. Try me. Judge me. Do what makes you feel better. I am more than you know.
Another great artist- Dallas Green. Sleeping Sickness. Love it. Sleepless uncertainty that we all know.
Ah, just some raw, live, honest performance art. Buskers are brave artists.
Such a personal experience sharing your art. By doing so you ask people to like it or dislike it. You seek some sort of approval for something that is ... just part of how you say something internal, but using a voice, an instrument, a tool or whatever. I think people who publicly sell their wares, their creations, or perform are amazing people.

2010-11-12T23:57:00.004-07:00

GO PHISH, I mean.

I hate Craigslist...!!!

You post there, you receive automatic spam from idiots phishing for information.

Always responses from that person that's moving from overseas- "oooh, I love your place, I'll take it, just send me all your personal information so I can send you money".

Seriously?
Does that even WORK?
Are people that RETARDED?
/slaps forehead

GAAAAAWD I HATE THAT.... You don't get it with Kijiji or Used Everywhere, just CL. Stupid trollers looking for stupid bait. GRRRRRRRR!!!!

2010-11-11T13:45:00.003-07:00

2010-11-07T19:40:00.003-07:00

So thinks are running smoothly, really. Everything looks cool.

Except Carlton here.

But firstly- the party last night went really, really well. REALLY good. Lots of winners for the prizes, lots of excitement around them. Left as early as I could, though, knowing my day ahead. I went straight to bed and got up early today to heave a used hot water tank up the stairs with my lovely assistant. Loaded the truck with anything due for the dump and headed to the landfill. Got home, continued on the floor tiles. Finished them- moved to the basement clean up. Finished that - moved to the upstairs bathroom detailing. Finished that- moved to the kitchen detailing. Finished that- omg it's 230pm, showing is at 3pm. Showered and opened the door promptly at 3pm- 2 ladies immediately appeared for a walk through. One was interested and completed an application- the other thanked me for my time and said she would think about it. I was a little shocked, because I assumed since they entered roughly at the same time that they were looking together, as room-mates and showed them the place together. It wasn't until she excused herself that I realized I was wrong!!

Not 20 minutes later, a couple came and moments later a single guy come through. Both parties seemed very interested, both took applications. The couple were really cute- she was taking notes, he was looking and asking questions. The single guy was talking up his business ventures and asking dollars and cents... (And for some reason I just really felt like he was a friend of the last tenant's ex-boyfriend, although I don't know this for sure. Just seemed like he asked things that I felt he knew the answer to? And same personality as the ex... same age... same entrepreneurial energy... hmmm. Just my spidey senses... ) I just started turning out lights thinking that was it and another lady showed with her daughter. Looked exactly like Mama Cass, walked with a cane, had a hard time with the steps. She came in, loved the character of the place but wanted a one floor sort of bungalow- an up down layout due to her health. All in all, good showings, good interest.

530pm rolled around and I headed to the condo for Round Two. Showed the condo to 2 interested parties - one is really interested in it and wants to secure it asap. She wants to pay more but have hydro included which I am fully down for. Possibly interested in a private sale later/ during the year which again- count me in. I could use the equity for a more profitable investment elsewhere for sure.

Condo Wars are ongoing- we have an upcoming meeting on Wednesday to discuss and dispute the "alleged required" balcony repairs, the imposed increases to the condo fees among other things. It is anticipated to be a heated exchange and I feel myself growing small pointy horns as I think about it. It makes me very angry. Very angry indeed !

Anyways all is coming to resolution. Feels like the hard work is ending, the results are coming. Amen.

2010-11-06T07:04:00.002-06:00

Checking the list, counting it twice.

Xmas party is this evening.

Lots on my own list as well. Pounded signs into the tree out front saying HOUSE FOR RENT and OPEN HOUSE this Sunday. Got 2 meetings tomorrow night, both at or related to the condo. Got another meeting Monday morning with the accountant about life insurance. Heading to Rona this morning to return a faucet I bought and don't need.

Everything seems to be coming together but in my head it feels like rush rush rush go go go, but hurry up and wait. So I'll make my list, check it twice, no renting to the naughty -only to the nice. =P

2010-10-30T20:45:00.004-06:00

Happy Halloween

Happy Samhain

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

However you call it, enjoy your Black Celebration in whatever form you celebrate it.

2010-10-27T21:16:00.004-06:00

Sam Katz re-elected.

I cannot say I am surprised, nor disappointed. I listened to each delegate on the Shaw TV debate just a few days ago and I wasn't sold on Judy's platform. Judy Wasylycia-Leis, his challenger, suggested that property taxes be RAISED (do NOT get me started on THIS) in order to fight crime and create better infrastructure. I wholeheartedly agree that Winnipeg has RIDICULOUS CRIME RATES and seemingly ongoing, never ending, ever annoying construction that almost seems to bandaid a larger problem. I agree that the bus system is archaic and slow. Yes, poverty and homelessness are big problems that are likely root causes to our crime stats. But RAISE property taxes, are you frickin INSANE!? I will have you know that I pay $1100 a year for a ONE BDRM CONDO. This is with no home owners grant, just a $250 drop in the bucket for an education grant that MB gives you. A teeny tiny 700 sq ft apartment warrants $1100 PER YEAR. A house or duplex in my case, apparently costs $3300 a year. Again, NO DISCOUNT. In Chilliwack? A three quarter acre parcel with an 800 sq ft house is just $660 per year.

Six HUNDRED BUCKS.

Winnipeg? We'll take an arm and a leg, please, and possibly your first born. And still charge you property tax for the space those limbs and that child would take up in our city.

Screw you Judy; take your ideas elsewhere. Or pay my taxes for me. Why 56% of Winnipeggers (in a recent poll) think it's a good idea to raise property taxes is way, way beyond me. Apparently people that don't own homes (or rent) were the only ones that voted in that poll !!

Not that Mr Katz is completely free and clear. His recent shoe to the face of some poor kid, and 30 year private water deal that he won't disclose details of have put a tarnish on his golden boy image. Regardless, hire the devil you do know, versus the one that hikes property taxes, I say. So play it again, Sam. Continue on. We won't hold our breath about the rapid transit or fixed potholes, just don't make me pay more money. Maybe I got this cheap Winnipegger thing down after all...

2010-10-20T23:14:00.002-06:00

Busy day today. Spent almost 5 hours buying a new truck, which is still not final. We (hopefully) own a 2010 Dodge 4x4 quad short box truck. It's a pre-owned, but only has 35,000K on it and we got it for $12,000 less than the original sticker price and a couple grand cash back. I feel pretty good about it. Traded the Camaro on it, which is great since it needed oh, tires, brakes, a tune up, paint in some spots and had a nasty rod knock. No offense to it, but good riddance. I hate sports cars. Seriously.
My Subaru- speaking of which- is in the shop. Probly will cost a few bucks to get it operational but we need that second car with him working. Took us a couple minutes to unearth it from the branches that grew over it in the last yr since I parked it... then another few to boost it... and I drove it around the corner to the closest autobody. I'll have to phone them in the morning to confess that it's mine and tell them what it needs =P I figure by mid or late next week we'll be 100% operational.
Meanwhile- while waiting to hear about the truck- I got some dollar store supplies and started scrubbing the poorly washed kitchen floor in my empty duplex that my tenant left for me. I should say that it appears she tried. Knowing HER level of clean, this was really spectacularly clean. Knowing MINE, it was pretty gross. It was mopped with dirty mop water, and you could tell. Because it like, dried on the floor in dirty swirls. So um, I needed to get down there, face it, scrub it, wash it, rinse it, and then wax it. Reagan would be proud. I'm doing the second wax coat tomorrow.
The damage to my hardwood floors - well, that's another matter. Have to rent a sander next weekend (halloween) and spend the weekend working out those issues. But until then, I can do some daily work replacing moldy grout, and peed on baseboards and stuff. Cleaning is therapeutic anyways. Or something.
Renters are awesome.
But wudev. Lessons learned. I know who I want here next time, and where to advertise, and how to screen. I'm not in a place where I'll just take ANYONE this time. Last time I really was. Last time I was financially screwed without that income. Today I can manage. Today I can CHOOSE who rents from me. Today, I can ask for, I can FIND, I know "that person" is out there and will rent from me.
I just have to prepare for them. I have to invite that person to see the house with my eyes. Someone who will walk in and automatically love the space, love the floors, the character. I love it, and I know someone else will. The person who will respect it is out there, and they will be my next renter.
Amen !

2010-10-17T20:09:00.003-06:00

Nuff said.

2010-10-14T08:41:00.003-06:00

Seriously, isn't the Miner Miracle cool to watch!?
I love me some GOOD news.
It's always catastrophes, and earthquakes, and tsunamis, and floods, and trauma out there.
It's NICE to see something GOOD happening! I know I'm a sucker for things like this, but I truthfully welled up when I saw the first guy emerge and get reunited with his family.
Can you IMAGINE how he must have felt down there, for THAT much time, in the dark, in a smelly underground cavern with how many other sweaty dirty miners!? And the ascent to the surface, in a tiny TUBE, for a few miles ride... omg. The whole experience gives me the heeby jeebies.
But the outcome could NOT be better. What a great, great, great story. LOVING IT !!!

2010-10-09T16:04:00.004-06:00

Hot October.

Sounds like an oxymoron, but apparently it's happening. High twenties today and the next few days. Talk about Thanks Giving !

Went for a lovely walk today, but I prepared myself for October weather- not realizing it was nearing 30 degrees. So I pull on track pants, put a padded vest on, walk outside and ...what the...!? Good lord, it's WARM! Like REALLY warm! But I forced myself out there, in the heat, in my clothing that was more suitable for about 10 or 15 degrees cooler. Have to take this in while it's here, because as we ALL know the weather here changes oh... overnight. One day you're sweating and cursing the damn sun, and the next day you'd take back any ill words you uttered to have a bloody warm moment at all! I hear people saying that there will be snow by the end of October. I don't know... But then again, this place is crazy.

I often wonder if there is a system, or a cycle to it all. For instance, does a wet summer mean a mild winter? Or does a super hot summer mean a super cold winter? Do they always match in intensity? What's the rule!? I should consult an almanac and see whether any exist. 'Course I'm used to pretty steady mild temperatures and drizzly rain, you realize. Say the word SNOW in Abbotsford and about 6 people suddenly come down ill and need to go home to hibernate, driving white knuckled and bugged out eyes skyward the whole way home. Here, you could tell people an ice storm, a tornado or a white out was coming and they would shrug their shoulders and head out shopping. Nothing to be afeared of. Tis just a flesh wound.

Anyhoo for now I will revel in it and pull my shorts out of the bottom drawer where I thought I had stored them for winter. May as well work on my tan for Halloween !

Note for tomorrow that it is 10 10 10 day. I wonder if that means anything in binary!?

2010-10-06T23:16:00.004-06:00

Flashbacks.
(click for slideshow)

1993

Hard...to...believe.

...'course this was before I had surgery to become a man...JK!! lol

2010-10-06T09:35:00.001-06:00

2010-10-02T05:30:00.003-06:00

I am all for having a good time.

In fact, I've even been known to do it a few times myself. Likely I have annoyed more than a few people when in this state pictured.

But when my tenants come home and invite 7 vehicles into my yard at 3am for an "after party" from work, things go from good to bad to worse.

Started out with just the loud group of people invading the other side of the duplex. I figured wudev, give them 30 minutes to chill and they'll simmer down. Then at 4am, when I fall back asleepl, the party escalates, and some drunk girl leans on my doorbell which rings 4, 5, maybe 6 times in a row. I leaped out of bed thinking there was an emergency, flew down to the door in my bathrobe and swung the door open. I was greeted by about six 20-somethings all tossing back Kokanee and a very drunk but apologetic young lady who said she must have leaned on my doorbell. Some guy cheerily explained this was an after party and went back to his drink. They said it won't happen again.

I was pissed off but in my current state not willing to do anything at that moment about it. I shut the door, explained to John what was going on, and we watched the party hoping things would dissipate. Mere moments later about 3 couples came out, got into 2 cars and drove away. I figured the party was breaking up and tried to go back to bed. I see both her pets get out the back door- the cat and the dog. Nobody seems to be attending them and they wander into the back lane. I wait a minute to see if anyone comes after them, and suddenly some goth looking thin girl with long back hair runs outside and collects one animal at a time. Seriously, that's all we would need is more drama in the middle of the night with a cat or dog getting hit by a car.

Now it's 530am. No sooner had I gotten maybe 30 minutes of sleep, and blood curdling screams from a girl and a guy and a lot of thumping was heard from their side. Again- leaped out of bed, thinking there was a fight or a rape or ? going on and I ran to the window. I threw up the pane and yelled, WTF IS GOING ON!! ...But there's nobody outside... what the... and the noise has stopped... It's eerily quiet suddenly. I go downstairs and open the door, seriously concerned. My tenant- wearing only a white towel- is on the back porch with her small dog strapping his leash to the railing. I said, Seriously, what the hell was that? I hear guys inside the house loudly asking the same thing at the same time as me. She says "she will take care of it". I said sternly, "This has to stop, now." I shut the door.

John and I are thoroughly irritated, and talk about what the hell is going on over there. And why is she in a towel!? What the hell was the screaming? We shake our heads and decide we are awake now, might as well get up. He leaves to go get me coffee and himself some breakfast. No sooner does he drive away and I see tenant's boyfriend running out the front door in nothing but a white towel.

Omfg. What the HELL is going on over there, and ... no seriously- what the HELL?! I notice my tenant's room mate is also outside- although fully dressed and seemingly in good health- out at the road on the sidewalk talking to a guy. I'm trying to put it together and figure out who was screaming, was it her? What's with all this drama?! And why should I care, other than it's disruptions to MY life. Boyfriend runs a full circle around the house from the front door to the back and knocks on her door. I watch, somewhat amused, but more confused than anything.

John returns with coffee and I fill him in. He says call the cops then. I said no, what really will that solve? Are they going to investigate people in towels running around half naked in the middle of the night? I recognize we could get them for disturbance, but for what? What does it solve? So I can sit there and write a report and cause a huge issue? She's moving out in 14 days anyways. I think otherwise. I propose that instead, let's do some gardening today. I'm pretty sure we need some good weedeating done very early this morning around the entire property and the lawn needs mowing. If we aren't getting sleep then I'll be damned if they are. Perhaps I should ring her doorbell at about 8am and offer to do some laundry for her so she has clothes to wear?

Meh. I phoned and left a message with her yesterday morning about three things: when was she moving out, the 15th or 31st? If you're staying you own me another half month's rent. And lastly, clean up your garbage that's ripped open on the porch. I think I'll follow up today with another phonecall letting HER know that move out date is Oct 15th or face eviction, and if there is another party AT ALL, the police will be attending it. UN... BE...LIEVABLE. Gonna be a looooong day.

2010-09-29T21:56:00.002-06:00

Evaluation day was today.

Yesterday, I scrubbed and polished and cleaned and tidied until midnight. I got up early today and fixed door latches, we put garbage bags at the curb, washed dishes, scrubbed the stove top and then... everything was DONE.

Little worrisome, because although the house and yard looked BETTER than when we had the last appraisal done in April, this was a different appraiser. Different company, different approach. The last guy wandered through almost nonchalantly, making small talk, discussing the neighbourhood and location. This guy pulls out a flashlight, sticks his face in our electrical panel, writes down 5 pages of notes and makes me veeeeeery nervous. But I do my best to dismiss his actions and talk about what we've done, why we bought, how I subdivided, what it took, and gave him a duotang with copies of everything I figured he would want to review. Including maybe a couple comparables that I felt he should see (inserts halo). The rest now, is up to the cosmic forces that govern the universe, whatever and whoever that is. I should hear by Friday what his verdict is and am crossing my fingers for good numbers.

More importantly, now I have to retrace my steps and find out where the hell I hid everything before time passes and I TOTALLY forget....!! Or else one day in the distant future I'll open a closet and it'll feel like Xmas morning when I find things I never knew I still had!!!!

2010-09-25T20:58:00.002-06:00

So, it's over.... or is it?

The Full Moon in Aries is slowly dissipating, and with it that Aries energy that some of us are more familiar with than others. Was it a dramatic past week for you? Seemed to be so in my world- the condo, for one. The energy of this full moon is "be the change", have courage. "It spurs us to act on our own authority, and sense of what is right", one astrologer says. I like that. Sounds self affirming; confident.

Because we are in Libra, we have to look at our own astro charts to see which "houses" Libra rules. My chart it's the 6th house- the house of service, duty and health. My focus will be my diet (check check) and the health of others. I might find my sense of serving, helping and attending to people or things and my worklife is highlighted. You can find out your own astro chart for free at www.alabe.com/freechart. If you see you have Libra ruling one of your houses, just google it and see what the heck it means =) That's how I roll.

I know what is a focus in the following week and month for me is another home evaluation. It's back to cleaning, organizing, (hiding things), getting my yard prepped, spit polishing and preening. I feel pretty confident that we will get an even higher number than last time, with the face we are putting forward next week. The results of this should be known hopefully by the end of the week and the actual realization of material gain from it within the month.

THEN... then, it gets tricky. This is where I hope to find that confidence and decisiveness... Do I sell one half of the side by side now? Do I rent it again? Hmmm. What to do. I could do either- keep, sell... pros and cons to either option. Leaning towards selling, if I'm honest. But then what!? Geez Louise. Have to keep my eyeballs and options open and consider the consequences of it all. Back to that astrology I started with... because it ain't over. I never knowed there were another full moon in Aries next month, too. I googled and it spat this back at me... /slaps forehead

There's another Full Moon in Aries on October 22nd, at 30 degrees, to really stir us to act on the tiny sparks of passion that could become more. It's a time to "be the change" you want to see in the world, and your own life. When you do that, there's always risk, since you're acting on your own authority. But it has an invigorating effect on your life, and everyone around you.

So for the next 4 weeks I'll be lighter and healthier, all the while playing the part of Cartman, or his mother, all at the same time. Greeeeeeeeeeat.

2010-09-22T17:27:00.004-06:00

I was angry today. I was angry everywhere. I was angry at everybody. I was angry when the hydro guy banged on my front door, because he should've seen my doorbell. I was angry when I went shopping.

And then...

After I was all good and done being angry, I realized who the hell was benefitting from this?! And dammit, that made me mad when I realized that.

Kidding!! lol

Actually I had a moment in the car driving BACK from shopping when I realized I really can't do anything (aside from getting pissy) about the condo. I can call and email and talk to people that may or may not have influence, but otherwise... meh. Getting angry sure isn't going to solve anything. Certainly muttering about the doorbell to some poor sap wandering around in the rain to collect hydro readings isn't attracting any karma points =P

So today, I was angry. But I got better.... I'm not dead yet! I feel like I could go for a walk! I feeel happyyyyy! =)

2010-09-21T09:15:00.004-06:00

Condos are great. They are low maintenance, they're easy to rent, they're pretty affordable. Except for the condo fees, which can apparently change on a dime, condos are good.

Take my condo for instance. Low condo fees of $258, until oh, a week ago when they announced that the place has $880,000 worth of balcony repairs to do and hey, they don't have the money. So everybody if you don't mind, starting in say, 2 weeks, condo fees will suddenly now be $458.

EDIT*** By the way, the estimated amount EACH unit owner will pay is between $6000 and $8000 in late Spring. Now say it with me .... HOLY....MOTHER....OF.... GOD

WTF!? (And more importantly, CAN THEY DO THAT!?)

Funny thing is, I emailed our property manager who says sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we've KNOWN about this issue for FIVE YEARS. She says, remember when each unit had to pay $800 towards a special assessment back in 2005? I say noooo, I moved in there in November of 2007 and nothing was said to me. In fact, I KEPT every document from that sale that passed through my lawyers hands to mine. I can assure you nothing was in the property disclosure, the condo notes, the memos, the declaration NOR, in fact, has it been mentioned in ANY MEMO SINCE or any annual general meeting agenda notes. Not a word, until very recently, like the past month.

I have a feeling I need to see a lawyer. One could possibly argue buyer beware, which may or may not apply here. I don't know. I *thought*, however, that condos were ruled by regulations that would cover these kinds of unfortunate events? Again, don't know. RIght now I'm just very, very irritated.

Today for everyone, for September 21, 2010

The Sun opposes Jupiter and Uranus today, and we could be feeling conflicted in terms of what we think we should do and what we want to do. We could be overestimating our capabilities. Culminations or surprising changes to a project or ambition might emerge now. Sudden changes of plans or opposition to our plans are possible and could stimulate us to try new approaches. The Moon is in Pisces all day, and Mars' parallel to Pisces' ruler Neptune can result in some level of confusion or possibly disillusionment. It's not the best time to make solid plans or agreements, but creativity levels can run high.

2010-09-18T16:54:00.002-06:00

Started out with spilling my venti americano on my jeans on my way to work.

Got to work, and the sole decided to seperate from my shoe. I literally used tape and silicone to attempt to keep it together...

Third bad thing hasn't yet happened, or won't... (crosses fingers).

If today were a dress, I'd return it!!

Actually it's all good; stuff happens. After the morning hours it was a fine day. Ish. Could have used more caffeine I think. Everything felt a little sluggish today.

Looking forward to cleaning tomorrow. Mmmm, cleaning. No sluggishness must exist tomorrow. I believe the plan is to make a fantastic pot of strong dark coffee, have a lovely breakfast of eggs and proscuitto then tackle the basement level in oh, 2 hours tops. It's a simple matter of stacking, placing and creating the appearance of organization. The main level is not an issue. A few small things to put away (*cough* kitchen *cough*) but otherwise it's in a tidy state. The upper floor? This will require the same effort as the basement.

Why am I doing this work? Well, I suspect we will get a phonecall from the Assessment Agency sometime next week. I figured I should be ready. I need the lawn mowed, the yard clutter hidden and the front and rear decks pressure washed. Not monumental chores, but on the MUST DO list for sure.

Briefly I contemplated a maniacal revap of my dated kitchen, but I don't know if I have TIME to paint all 4 walls, paint out the backs of the cabinets, change all the cabinet handles AND replace the countertop... AND replace the faucet (which I have sitting there waiting in the wings)... AND install the garburetor that is also awaiting installation... AND replace the floor with new lino... AND the light fixtures with newer fancier ones. All of this would be really quite low cost and likely give me good return on my money, but do I have time?? I don't know. I've no idea when this person will phone me and invite themselves into my home.

So I will work tomorrow as though the call was coming Monday.... cleaning, here I come.
/rolls up sleeves...

2010-09-16T09:19:00.003-06:00

I am seeing stars today as well, but not in a good way.

Yesterday was "pay day" via rental income. I am lucky to be paid on the 1st and 15th from each different property which is nice (and necessary!) I thought I would be smart and immediately pay bills last night to ensure the funds went where they were required. I kept a few dollars in the account for groceries and gas.

(Apparently I was also thinking I was smart LAST payday, when I proactively put in the internet banking FUTURE DATED BILLS for oh... today. All the bills I paid yesterday, in fact, were apparently paid again today. Sadly I FORGOT about this plan, and this is what happened...!!)

This morning I head to the local 7-11 for just a few small things. I am standing there with a small $6.55 bill for some coffee and other goods and lo and behold, my debit card is declined. Gasp! But why!? I say, with big bewildered eyes. But I have money in there! But but but but...! I whip open my cell phone and get a very calm and professional call center lady from my bank on the phone, who patiently explains that I have spent all my money on bill payments. Did I need her to review them all? (very slowly I say...) Nooo, I don't think sooo... thanks. I go to the bank machine and look at the balance myself, with my own beady little eyeballs. Whaaaa?!!! Oh, no no no no noooooo....something is very wrong here.

I'm driving home, thinking over and over and over that my math can simply NOT be that bad.. is it?! Nooo, it can't be. I paid this and this and that, and then there was this much left.... What the hell! I get home, grab the trusty backup Mastercard and go get my damn $6 purchase from Sev, all the while STILL adding up what funds SHOULD be there... On my return, I take my stupid Mastercard-paid coffee upstairs and investigate what the HELL went wrong with my math!!

Shit. Sometimes I apparently outsmart myself. Apparently Past Proactive Self and Future Proactive Self need to talk! But boy, are my bills paid. Except for my coffee. Thanks, Mastercard.

Seeing stars....

2010-09-14T21:49:00.005-06:00

This may sound weird, and that's okay.

I see stars.

About every oh, six months or sometimes less or more, I literally trip over a star. These are 2 I found. The gold one I found a few yrs ago, and the blue one I found the other day while on a walk. Both are just stars I found on the ground, simply lost objects to whomever owned them before.

I don't look for them, they just appear. Last week at work, on the floor, I saw another one. A white paper star, but I didn't turn around and pick it up. Normally I do, but this particular time I just saw it, smiled, and kept on going. I just somehow knew it was for me to see.

I don't know why the stars appear. I've no idea why I find them, or why I see them, or why they are in my path! It's just one of those odd omens that I have to notice. I have this tendancy, apparently, to find stars and 4 leaf clovers. Oodles of 4 leaf clovers, too. I can look down in almost any patch and find three, four, five leaf clovers. At one point I had a collection of at least 75 or so glued to a page. I kept them forever until they went yellow and brittle, then decided to let them go. Maybe the luck is simply in finding them and not in keeping or storing them, I thought.

I've no idea what these things mean. Why stars and clovers? I dunno. But it's neat, and I find it fascinating. I guess I'm just special =)

2010-09-13T10:08:00.003-06:00

Just reading a post today about the Canadian Housing Market on Bigger Pockets Blog.

Some will have you believe, by the increase in interest rates and the US housing market, that Canada's bubble is bursting. And perhaps in some areas and some neighbourhoods this may happen, where prices and values drop and the inventory on the market increases or stays for a longer time. That's okay with me. In fact creating a healthier buyer's market is GREAT! I would love to partake in that.

I would also love to learn more about investing stateside. Seems that everything down south is virtually on sale, and Las Vegas greatly intrigues me. I just don't know as much as I want to know about that market, or how as a foreigner you can do so? Do you have to have a fist full of cash? Can you finance from a Canadian mortgage to a US property?! I dunno- so many questions and zero dollars at my disposal to even think about something like this. However as a partnership deal with another person or family I think this may be something to consider... Like purchasing a condo on the strip and having a rental company rent it out for you on a weekly basis. Then you and your fellow investor could literally have your own pad to stay at when visiting that area. Or how about Florida? Or Anaheim CA? Or Mexico?

All in good time. But seriously curious about other places. Anything is possible.

TRIVIA

2010-09-12T11:19:00.004-06:00

I did not know, but I wondered.

Nanaimo Bars are indeed a Canadian classic dessert originating from none other than Nanaimo, BC.

From Wikipedia:

The bar originated in Ladysmith south of Nanaimo in the early 1950s. Mabel Jenkins, a local housewife from Cowichan Bay, submitted the recipe to the annual Ladysmith and Cowichan Women's Institute Cookbook. This cookbook was sold in the early 1950s in the region as a fundraiser. It became popular in many of the province's households, especially in company towns, and was sold in many of the coffee shops on Nanaimo's Commercial Street. Tourists in the region, especially US tourists on pleasure boats came to refer to these as "Nanaimo Bars". In Nanaimo and points south to Duncan, however, these were originally referred to as Mabel bars, or W.I. bars. The earliest confirmed printed copy of the recipe using the name "Nanaimo Bars" appears in a publication entitled His/Her Favourite Recipes, Compiled by the Women's Association of the Brechin United Church (1957), with the recipe submitted by Joy Wilgress, a Baltimore, Maryland native (p.52). (The Brechin United Church is in the north side of Nanaimo.) This recipe also is reprinted in Kim Blank's book Sex, Life Itself, and the Original Nanaimo Bar Recipe (Umberto Press, 1999, pp.127-29).

In 1954 the recipe "Mable's Squares" (p.84) was published in "The Country Woman's Favorite" by the Upper Gloucester Women's Institute (New Brunswick). The recipe was submitted by Mrs. Harold Payne, the daughter of Mable (Knowles) Scott (1883-1957). The ingredient list, quantities, and assembly steps closely match the recipe found on the City of Nanaimo web site.

The first printing of recipes featuring Nanaimo Bar ingredients is found in the 1952 Women's Auxiliary to the Nanaimo Hospital Cookbook. They are referred to as the Chocolate Square or the Chocolate Slice. Some say the first use of the name Nanaimo Bar was in an Edith Adams cookbook printed in 1953.

Other unconfirmed references date the bars back to the 1930s, when it was said to be known locally as "chocolate fridge cake".Some New Yorkers claim that it originated in New York, and refer to them as "New York Slices".However, Tim Horton's coffee shops in New York sell them as "Nanaimo Bars". One modern reference even refers to the bars existing in nineteenth century Nanaimo.

2010-09-09T23:06:00.005-06:00

Good news: Housing prices expected to fall. This is expected to be temporary, and not like the US market slowdown which has stagnated and is expected to stay there for some time.

Bad news: interest rates expected to climb. This is linked to the US markets, and if THEIR economy does not recover or strengthen we will undoubtedly pay a literal price. It's a crap shoot whether to lock in or wait it out. Typically variable rates are historically lower than fixed. My mortgages are all variable. I am still lower than fixed. Having said that, I *may* see a climb in my pmts which means less profit for me. Nothing to lose sleep over, but I'm keeping my eyeballs on what's going on.

Good news: Savings rates should also typically climb, when lending rates do- although it's not simultaneous. Normally the market needs to soften for a bit before we see this result.

Bad news: Savings rates are soooooo lowwww right now. You'd be better to save your cash in a sock! Preferably one that doesn't have holes in it =P ...

Good news: Cheap entertainment! Get this- Online gaming actually helps your career! The report says that online gaming assists you in learning strategy, team play, cause and effect, commodities (trading and economy) and social networking for advancement.

Bad news: Were this integrated into every workplace, we would all be level 80 druids communicating only in leet speak, surrounded by pizza pop wrappers and empty Bawls containers. Unless you work at Google, *NOT* a productive way to "engage employees"...

That's all I got today. I know there's a lot more good and bad. But today that's all I can come up with =P
I'm busy levelling my character (not!)

2010-09-06T05:49:00.006-06:00

Seriously!

It is!

Let's see- earlier this week I was woken up at the ungodly hour of ... well, before nine AM, by a dude that wanted my old appliances that were in my backyard. And thanks to him for taking them away, because it saved me time, effort and possibly money.

The following day at the same early time our house alarm was tripped and began baying like a herd of sick donkeys in my basement. The panel indicated that there was a "breach of security" at our back door. The door itself was still locked when we frantically scrambled to it moments after the alarm started, in our half asleep but now panicked state. Still don't know what caused it, but certainly the contact MUST have been broken. I can only guess that it was either someone who attempted to shoulder the door open, or a false alarm. I'm trying to lean that way in my thinking. After the alarm I paced around the kitchen, peering out windows and trying to see where the mystery perpetrator may be, or if he existed at all. I am glad though that it was nothing (seemingly) after all, our safety was not at risk, the alarm WORKS, and despite the rude awakening and nervousness following, all was well.

This morning, beautiful holiday Labour Day and yet, at 5:08am I receive an alarm call from the workplace. Oy with the conspiracy against my sleep! But a minor and correctable issue that after a lovely drive down there, was resolved by the time I and my coworker investigated it.

Ah, I suppose the Universe has decided I need a better sleeping pattern! Good news is I started today with the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunrise and grab a tim horton's coffee on the way home. I think I'm going to start setting my alarm for say, 6am, in anticipation of whatever is next so I am coherent and alert to deal with whatever it is.

Enjoy your holiday peeps! Get some rest =P I'm going to spend my day doing arts and crafts with aluminum foil, devising a helmet with horns to ward off any universal tractor beams... and hopefully disrupt any incoming transmissions...

2010-09-02T22:30:00.005-06:00

I have to make a post now that it's September. I can't let my blog stay sitting there with the last post in August! That is SO last month!!

We're coming up on the Virgo New Moon, making this the perfect time to sort through drawers, organize and find use for things you find. And if you find something and realize you no longer need it, then send it on its way.

This morning I was rudely awoken at 8:30 am by my doorbell. TWICE. The first time I thought well, maybe they'll go away.... Wait, was I expecting anyone!? Well crap, now I wonder who it is. Seriously, did I have an appointment?! As soon as that thought came to me, DING DONG! Another doorbell. Omg, okay, okay, OKAY already! Both of us are up, fumbling to find somewhat presentable clothes, stumbling blindly to the back window where I bellow out, "CAN I HELP YOU!?"

Guy with salt and pepper short hair, in a red and black checker shirt pops out from under my back deck roof and spots me.
"Oh, hey, sorry to bother you, but are you doing anything with these appliances? Because I'd be glad to take them off your hands..."
He points to my discarded old fridge and stove that we just replaced on the weekend sitting in a heap next to the stairs. I muttered something unintelligable, but agreed that it would be okay. He seemed happy enough, apologized again for the interruption, and ran to his truck to back it into place. I watched for a moment from the window as he heaved the fridge into his truck bed, for a moment concerned he may scrape the side of my car that was parked quite close by. But he seemed conscious of that, and truthfully I was more tired than anything else. Somehow I figured he wouldn't hurt anything, he just wanted some metal scrap. We wandered back to bed, and John wearily said, "Well, that was nice of him".
Can't argue.
Too often my immediate reaction to what are truly gifts is annoyance, or to push it away and not see it for what it is. Honestly the guy saved me a few bucks and an eyesore in my backyard. I have to thank him for stopping in and waking me up for that.
So let that Virgo energy help you clean out your unwanted, no longer necessary clutter that exists with you. But for your sake I hope the process doesn't interrupt your sleep =P

2010-08-26T11:25:00.004-06:00

Well, back to real life eh? The sun has set on vacation time! But what a gorgeous sunset from the BC Ferries on Monday evening. I was probably one of about a dozen people standing at the railing, cell phone camera (or a nice zoom lens Canon) pointed at the sunset developing in front of us. What a great time to sail home.

Super nice weather here today- I believe we have 27 degrees in Peg City and full sun. Sinful to have to work, really.

Full Moon in Pisces moved over us on the 24th although its effects can be felt a few days before and after. Not feeling too stressed out myself whatsoever yesterday or today. In fact I'm pretty relaxed!

Doing a lot of reading lately. Over vacation, I read THIS YEAR I WILL, 5 PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, LAW OF ATTRACTION and I watched EAT PRAY LOVE (which now I have to read). I can probably credit my mood to having read (or watched) these things that are"full of lessons". Amazing stories, all about growth, understanding, self awareness or self actualization. I just overall FEEL BETTER- clearer about things. Clarity is good- time to lay some things down on paper, put some intention out there, make some plans to set sail for the next horizon, whatever that is. Release!!!

2010-08-19T16:10:00.006-06:00

(not my photo, courtesy of Google images)

Last full day on Pender Island. I arrived just 30 minutes late by Westjet on Tuesday afternoon, direct from Calgary to Victoria airport. My flight came in at 155pm and our ferry left at 2pm- we literally got in line, turned off the engine for 5 minutes, then started loading the boat. Talk about timing!!

I don't think I've had one moment of bad weather yet (*knocks on wood*) and easy travelling all around. My parent's dog (a long haired mini daschund named Squire) has claimed me as his new best friend, and is lying dutifully at my feet as I type.

Today we drove the island looking at properties for sale (*wistfully noted*) and poked around a few antique and gift shops. I picked up a great necklace- kambala fossil on dark green jasper. It looks just like an owl face, and I could not resist it... A very WISE purchase (nyuk nyuk).

Tomorrow I`m off to the Victoria side; spending a few days with Sister at Shirley Days reading tarot cards for those that stumble from the beer gardens. Should be profita... fun, should be fun... LOL!! Looking forward to it.

Glad to have just those few more days of R&R before the whirlwind, drama and chaos returns. Keep that sun shining!! I will soak it riiiiiight up until the verrrrrrrrrry last second!!